Frederica Von Stade (mezzo Soprano), Laurana Mitchelmore (piano),National Concert Hall, Dublin Thurs 8pm €30-€70 01-4170000
It's another hectic week for concert-goers. A new CD of music by Michael Holohanis being launched at pianist Thérèse Fahy'slunchtime concert of his work today (with a free copy for everyone at the concert). Tenor Robin Tritschler and horn player John Ryanjoin with the RTÉ NSO under Patrik Ringborgfor a performance of Britten's Serenadethis evening, and the Belfast Philharmonic Choir and Ulster Orchestra under Kenneth Montgomerytake on Handel's Alexander's Feastin Belfast.
Also on Friday, a new company called Blue Bulb Media opens a six-concert series at St Ann's Church in Dawson Street. Soprano Celine Byrne and mezzo Tara Erraughtcontinue their nationwide Music Network tour with pianist Dearbhla Collins, and there are also tours underway by the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, the violin and piano duo of Catherine Leonard and Hugh Tinney, and the Diversus Guitar Ensemble.
Monday's London Symphony Orchestraprogramme under Michael Tilson Thomasincludes Berg's Three Orchestral Pieces as well as Schubert's Great C major Symphony. A new four-concert series from Ireland Promoting New Musicopens at the NCH's Kevin Barry Room on Tuesday with a Helmut Lachenmann portrait from Sarah Leonard and Rolf Hind. The Dublin leg of an international tour of violin and piano music by Ensecu and Brahms by Romanian duo Remus Azoitei and Eduard Stanis at the NCH John Field Room on Wednesday.
However, crowning all of these is Thursday's celebrity concert at Dublin's NCH, the farewell, at 64, of much-loved American mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade,(pictured), whose original programme of German and French song has been replaced by an altogether more wide- ranging programme of songs and arias from both sides of the Atlantic.
