Autumn Concerts 2008
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
Thibaut Guillois practicing in St Bride’s Parish Church prior to the concerts SE3820
ON Friday and Saturday evening (5th and 6th September) the first two concerts of Doagh Village Community Association's "Autumn Concerts 2008" took place in St Bride's Parish Church, Doagh and in The Braid Arts Centre in Ballymena.
The performances were given by the accomplished French pianist Thibaut Guillois. His choice of music and his superb performance enthralled the audiences at both concerts. He included two nocturnes from the works of the Irish composer John Field and four of the best known pieces from composer Franz Liszt which were written during some of his many trips around Europe in the mid-nineteenth century.
The most captivating of these were "Les Cloches de Genève" and the "Hungarian Rhapsody No.6" which interpreted the folk music from Liszt's own native Hungary. Between each piece Thibaut told the story behind the composers' inspiration to complete the work. Thus he enabled the audience to have a clearer insight into the elements of each piece and so enhancing everyone's understanding and enjoyment. Such is Thibaut's passion for his music that it was easily conveyed to all of those who attended the concerts.
Thibaut received standing ovations from the enthusiastic audiences and went on to delight them by playing additional pieces from Frédéric Chopin. After each performance Thibaut remained and chatted to those who attended and was hugely impressed by the warm reception given to him by the Northern Irish audiences. He vowed to return before too long to play again and to see much more of the beautiful Ulster countryside. He chatted to a Fermanagh father and his young son who had driven the long distance from Enniskillen to attend the concert planned to return to their home after the performance!
Many of those who attended the concerts felt that the performance was truly inspiring and that they will certainly return to future concerts. The fact that such an accomplished performer was available for local audiences was an immense boost for people in the Mid and South-east Antrim areas, who would otherwise have to travel much further afield.
The next series of concerts will be at the end of October. This time they will be given by the renowned French soprano, Béatrice Tronel accompanied by pianist Stéphanie Hiron. The concerts will be held in St. Bride's Parish Church, Doagh on Thursday 30 October and in The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena on Friday 31 October.
Béatrice will include in her programme some works from the composer Gabriel Fauré as she specilises in French melody. She will also sing some well known and loved pieces from the world of Operetta and will finish with several songs from Porgy and Bess and other more contemporary composers. She plans to finish her performance with several Irish songs, greatly loved by us all.
Tickets for The Braid Concert are available from The Braid Box Office or by contacting Alice Andrew (02893 340570) or Bob Adams (07740721717). Admission is £5.00 for adults and £3.50 for children and Senior Citizens)
Because the Doagh concerts are held in a church, admission to the performances at is free of charge. However the organisers will be requesting a voluntary contribution in the form of a retiring collection to help with concert expenses. St Bride's Parish Church was chosen as a venue for the concerts because it is local and at the heart of Rural South East Antrim. It is also a most beautiful building with fantastic acoustic qualities. The organisers of the concerts were grateful to the Church for agreeing to host the concerts in Doagh and for generously providing refreshments afterwards to allow those attending the opportunity to relax and meet with the artists.
The Braid Arts Centre Theatre is also a truly magnificent venue. Those who remember it as the "Town Hall" in Ballymena will know of its suitability to host events such as these concerts. The recent renovations have added to its splendour as has the provision of a magnificent Schimmel Grand Piano.
This DVCA venture is non profit making. It's only aim is to provide the opportunity for local people to hear world class musicians in a local venue. The concept has arisen through a recent relationship built up between Doagh and Mont Dol in Brittany. Those interested in music, young or old, should make every effort to attend. Live performances of artists such as these add that extra "magic" and atmosphere that is simply not available on CDs or DVDs. Your support will ensure that such opportunities will continue in the future.
Whether or not you believe that classical music is "your thing", one thing is certain; these concerts will provide you with an unforgettable experience to treasure long into the future.
