THIS CONCERT IS SOLD OUT!
There are still tickets available to all other Boyne Music Festival events. We encourage you to book early for these to avoid disappointment.
The Natural World
The Boyne Music Festival is thrilled to open its 10th anniversary festival in the glorious ballroom of Slane Castle. There is much to celebrate this year and we couldn’t be more excited to present the first concert of our 2023 festival in this historic location.
Overlooking the River Boyne, Slane Castle has been the seat of the Conyngham family since 1703. It is one of the most impressive and historic buildings in Ireland and for the last quarter century music has been a central part of its tradition.
In 1984, the Irish band U2 took up residence at the castle to write and record their album The Unforgettable Fire. Slane is however most known for its open air Rock Concerts, performed in its natural amphitheater with a capacity of 80,000 people. Performers who have headlined Slane concerts since 1981 include The Rolling Stones, U2, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, David Bowie, Neil Young, Bryan Adams, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Robbie Williams, Madonna, and R.E.M.
The BMF is delighted to join this illustrious list of performers with an intimate evening inside the castle exploring the sounds of nature. There will be chamber music for soprano, strings and marimba that makes use of the acoustics in this stunning space and pays homage to the sounds of the rivers, trees and sky that surround us.
Programme
J.S. Bach - Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major: Prelude, Sarabande & Gigue
Osvaldo Golijov - Mariel for cello and marimba
Caroline Shaw - And So for string quartet and voice
Keiko Abe - Wind in the Bamboo Grove for solo marimba
John Noonan - original poetry
Pablo Casals - Song of the Birds for cello and string quartet
G.F. Handel - Ombra mai fu from Xerxes, arr. for soprano and marimba
Peter Sculthorpe - String Quartet No. 11
10th Anniversary Dinner
Prior to the Opening Night concert, the BMF welcomes guests to a celebratory 10th Anniversary Dinner at Slane Castle. This 3-course meal can be booked separately from the evening concert and will be a wonderful opportunity to experience local cuisine while also marking this exciting milestone with other festival guests. Seating is limited to 60 guests and early booking is recommended.
Artists
Robert Cohen, cello
Mia Cooper, violin
Anna Devin, soprano
Carmen Flores, viola
Aisling Manning, violin
Julie-Anne Manning, cello
John Noonan, poet
Alex Petcu, percussion