News
Fermanagh Choral Society delights large audience
Conductor Don Swain with the Fermanagh Choral Society and the Western Sinfonia
The mild spring twilight of last Sunday evening (1 April) was the setting for Fermanagh Choral Society's 'Bruckner's Requiem in D Minor' in the acoustically superb St Michael's Church, Enniskillen. Nearly 300 people availed of the free opportunity to enjoy glorious live music on Palm Sunday thanks to collaboration with the Macartan 1500 project, which celebrates 1500 years since St Macartan, the patron of Clogher Diocese.
The Fermanagh Choral Society opened with two Rutter pieces followed by the soloists from the National Chamber Choir: Niamh O'Connell (soprano), Aoife Miskelly (alto), Jacek Wislocki (tenor) and Stephen Fennelly (bass).
The ever popular flautist Kristan Swain then captivated the audience with his performance. A spokeswoman for the initiative praised the 13 year old, "The audience was spellbound by the talent of this young performer. We have no doubt that he will go far in his musical career. His abilities go far beyond his years."
The second half of the concert was Anton Bruckner's Requiem in D Minor. This composition combined the talents of the soloists with Fermanagh Choral Society, the Western Sinfonia, and the accompanist, Irene Kernohan, all under the direction of Conductor Don Swain. From the muted opening of the Requiem through the tuneful and often demanding choruses to the conclusion of the rousing Cum Sanctus the audience was kept in rapt attention.
This recital is part of the celebrations for the Macartan 1500 Project, acknowledging 1500 years since the death of Clogher Diocese's patron saint - St Macartan. The project is part financed by the European Union through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation and managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council (RDC).
Continuing the Macartan 1500 event series, David Bolton, director of the Northern Ireland Trauma and Transformation Centre will be speaking at the Clinton Centre on the 3rd May about the process of transformation which has taken place in Northern Ireland. For further details contact the Clogher Diocesan Office on 028 66 347879.
Date: 2 April 2007