The National Concert Hall (NCH) is delighted to announce an eclectic series of festive livestream concerts for all ages from Saturday 12th to Sunday 20th December. Concerts will be available view online, with most livestreams free and available to audiences worldwide from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels.
Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall said:
“The weeks leading up to Christmas normally see the NCH thronged with happy, excited people enjoying a wonderful array of festive and family concerts. We all understand that this is not possible this year and we are delighted to bring this special online programme to our audiences at home and around the world.
In a year that has been difficult for all of us, particularly those involved in music and the arts, we hope we can bring a little respite, joy and Christmas cheer into homes around the country and further afield as we all look forward to a brighter and happier New Year.”
The series commences on 12th December with perennial favourites Theatre Lovett who this year bring this festive treat of Mr. Fox and Friends to the NCH to delight children and parents alike. Expect seasonal song, music, jokes and guests including Liam O Maonlaí, Keli Ann Masterson, Martin Brunsden, Simon Morgan, Conor Linehan, Olesya Zdorovetska, Nick Roth and of course Louis Lovett. This Christmas Special is produced by Theatre Lovett funded by The Arts Council and supported by the National Concert Hall.
On 13th December Bell X1 frontman and NCH regular Paul Noonan gets festive with a special Christmas edition of his popular Electric Kazoo titled The Snowy Kazoo! This seasonal celebration will be a kazoo-tastic afternoon of Christmas tunes and goofs, coming at you from The Good Room. For this special instalment Paul, Sam, Aislinn and Ellie the Dog are asking children to send in drawings or pictures of their teddies at Christmas and a note saying what the teddies are looking forward to during the Christmas holidays. Paul and co. will turn them into songs! Please email snowy@nulltheelectrickazoo.ie
The festive season would not be complete without a carol service so please join us on Friday December 18th for a Christmas Carol Service with Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Choir live from the National Concert Hall. For this special concert they will perform a selection of rich and elaborate carols and are joined with seasonal contributions by novelist Joseph O’Connor and broadcaster Olivia O’Leary.
The Irish Chamber Orchestra take to the stage on Saturday December 19th for A Christmas Celebration with leader Katherine Hunka and soprano Ava Dodd. This unique performance features much-loved festive songs and music from across Europe. The programme includes traditional pieces such as ‘Silent Night’, the inspirational ‘I Know That My Redeemer Liveth’ from Messiah and Corelli’s Christmas Concerto. A little closer to home, the ICO serenade with the ‘Wexford Carol’ and a haunting rendition of ‘Don Oíche úd I mBeithil’ .
The festive series comes to a close on Sunday 20th December with siblings Rufus, Martha and Lucy Wainwright’s beloved Christmas show A Not So Silent Night, this year ‘Virtually Together’. They will be joined by aunts, mothers, fathers, nieces, cousins, sons and daughters of the acclaimed musical clans of the Wainwrights, McGarrigles and Roches. First performed in 2005, this holiday celebration is equal parts concert and family reunion. The stream will come live from Rufus’ living room in Laurel Canyon, Martha’s arts and community center in Montreal and City Winery in New York for Lucy Wainwright Roche. The live stream will take this family tradition back to Rufus’ and Martha’s childhood where they would perform Christmas carols and songs with their extended family.
The Christmas Series is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Mr. Fox and Friends is funded by The Arts Council.
CHRISTMAS SERIES at NATIONAL CONCERT HALL
Saturday 12th December 3pm
Theatre Lovett presents Mr. Fox and Friends
Free to view, from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels
Available to view for one week
Sunday 13th December 3pm
Paul Noonan: The Snowy Kazoo Livestream
Free to view, from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels
Available to view for 48 hours
Friday 18th December 7pm
Christmas Carol Service with St. Patrick’s Cathedral Choir plus guests Joseph O’Connor and Olivia O’Leary Livestream
Free to view, from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels
Available to view for 48 hours
Saturday 19th December 8pm
A Christmas Celebration with the Irish Chamber Orchestra Livestream
Free to view, from NCH YouTube and Facebook Channels
Available to view for 48 hours
Sunday 20th December 8pm
Rufus, Martha and Lucy Wainwright’s A Not So Silent Night ‘Virtually Together’ Livestream
See nch.ie for booking information
Stream will be available for re-watch until 6th January 2021
