ANTHONY Marwood, artistic director of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, has looked to Australia for the final concert in the ICO’s 08/09 season. The Australian violinist Richard Tognetti, leader of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, is the guest star for this May end concert, taking place at UCH on Sunday 31 at 8pm. This will be the last concert in the eight-strong season that saw the orchestra play Limerick, Cork and Dublin back to back for each of the eight programmes. Curtis Auditorium, Cork on Friday 29, National Concert Hall, Dublin on Saturday 30 are the concerts that precede the Limerick finale.

Expect him to present “a dramatic programme that spans three centuries and features works by three landmark composers of their era - Corelli, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky,” says Charlotte Eglington, PRO for the orchestra. “Tognetti is one of Australia’s living treasures, nominated by The National Trust of Australia who promote Australia’s cultural heritage through its advocacy work.  

“He joins a line-up of prestigious celebrities that include Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Yvonne Goolagong Cawley, Pat Rafter, Rolf Harris, Dawn Frazer and more”. 

Crowe referred to Tognetti as “the most magnificent violinist Australia has produced”, having worked with him on the set of  Master and Commander as composer and soundtrack soloist, as well as violin tutor to the masterful Crowe.  

Tognetti has chosen a classic programme of the great masters for his series with the Irish Chamber Orchestra.  It features No. 4 from Corelli’s Twelve Concerti Grossi, Op 6: Beethoven’s Kreutzer sonata, originally for piano and violin, arranged now for violin solo and string orchestra.

Two works by Tchaikovsky complete the programme, Andante Cantabile from his first String Quartet and then Serenade for Strings,

Sunday May 31, UCH and book on www.uch.ie