Echoes
The BMF is thrilled to welcome guests back to Slane Castle for the opening night of the 13th Boyne Music Festival. 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 be among the illustrious list of performers associated with this historic location. The evening program “Echoes” offers a reflective mix of classical and contemporary music for voice, piano and strings, including a gentle nod to that historic U2 recording from the 1980s. The programme will also feature readings by this year’s BMF poet, Kate Wakeling.
For those eager to expand their castle experience, we invite you to book a pre-concert dinner in the Gandon Room. This 3-course set menu will offer you the opportunity to enjoy fine local cuisine in a truly elegant setting.
Programme
Kate Wakeling - Poetry
Luboš Sluka - Sonata for Bassoon and Piano
Sting / Robert Mathes: Practical Arrangement, arr. for voice and string quartet
U2 - Bad, arr. for voice and string quartet
David Hirschfelder (text by Judith Wright) - To a Child for voice and string quartet
Pyotr Tchaikovsky - Souvenir de Florence
Performers
Deirdre Brenner, piano
Lotte Betts-Dean, mezzo-soprano
Paul Cassidy, viola
David Edmonds, cello
Sholto Kynoch, piano
Aisling Manning, violin
Éanna Monaghan, bassoon
John Murphy, viola
Ioana Petcu-Colan, violin
Jacqueline Thomas, cello
Kate Wakeling, poet