Music Network Presents An All-Violin Quartet At Birr Theatre & Arts Centre
“A deliciously ardent violin solo from leader Mia Cooper” The Irish Times
“The performance of Mendelssohn’s youthful Octet, led by Katherine Hunka, buzzed with energy. The audience loved it” The Irish Times
“Utterly gripping… dazzling” Musical Opinion (on Woods)
“Astoria’s Escualo acts as a safety net beneath the trapeze artistry of Ioana Petcu-Colan’s violin” The Irish Times
Music Network is thrilled to bring together for the first time Leaders and Associate Leaders of Ireland’s most prestigious orchestras – Mia Cooper, Katherine Hunka, Ioana Petcu-Colan and Helena Wood – in an all-violin quartet at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre
Music Network is thrilled to bring together for the first time Leaders and Associate Leaders of Ireland’s most prestigious orchestras – Mia Cooper, Katherine Hunka, Ioana Petcu-Colan and Helena Wood – in an all-violin quartet at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Thursday 20th April at 8pm. These four exceptional violinists will perform a specially curated programme for this tour that runs the gamut from Paganini to the present day with an exciting new commission by Ian Wilson inspired by Cy Twombly’s ‘Quattro Stagioni’. More at musicnetwork.ie.
Leader of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra since 2006, Mia Cooper is a highly-regarded chamber musician who has graced the stage with the Barbican Trio, Gould Trio, Brodsky Quartet, Fibonacci Sequence and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.
Katherine Hunka, leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra since 2002, has collaborated with Murray Perriah, Joshua Bell, Nigel Kennedy and Anthony Marwood amongst others, while Ioana Petcu-Colan, Associate Leader of the Ulster Orchestra, has worked with artists as diverse as Martin Hayes, Arcade Fire, John Abercrombie and members of the Alban Berg and Vanbrugh quartets.
Completing this stellar quartet is Helena Wood, leader of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. A seasoned performer on TV and radio, she has given numerous recitals at such prestigious venues as Wigmore Hall, Barbican Hall and the Royal Festival Hall.
As part of Music Network’s Learning and Participation programme, members of the quartet will be facilitating workshops at Birr Theatre & Arts with Gaelscoil Aonach Urmhumhan’s Chamber Orchestra based in Nenagh, who will also perform before the quartet in Birr on the night.
Music Network tours are funded by the Arts Council and are presented in association with RTÉ lyric fm. Tickets for this concert are available from €5 and can be purchased by calling 057 9122911 or at birrtheatre.com. More details at www.musicnetwork.ie.
FOR LISTINGS EDITORS
- Mia Cooper, violin
- Katherine Hunka, violin/viola
- Ioana Petcu-Colan, violin
- Helena Wood, violin
Thursday 20th April
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre, Birr
Birr, 8:00 p.m., €17 / €15 / €5
Tel. 057 9122911/www.birrtheatre.com
