McGonnell, Cooney and Collins Trio

PIANIST Finghin Collins joins two other of Ireland’s top young musicians in a classical musical tour that comes to St Mary’s Cathedral on July Tuesday 17, 8pm. As part of this five stop Classical Links circuit, Collins plays with Carol McGonnell (clarinet) and Elizabeth Cooney (violin) a programme that begins with Stravinsky’s Suite from ‘The Soldier’s Tale’ for clarinet, violin and piano. This composition is based on the Russian folk tale of a soldier who trades his fiddle for the devil’s in response to an  offer to make him rich.  

On then to Khachaturian’s trio which reflects his interest in folk music with the eastern flavours of Armenia in its harmonic language. 
French composer Ravel, who was fascinated by the music of Spain, wrote his ‘Piece en forme de Habanera’ for bass voice and piano. In this concert its slow, sultry Spanish dance is performed by clarinet and piano. 
Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne is based on music from his ballet Pulcinella which was one of the composer’s favourite scores.   The final work on the trio’s programme is by Paul Schonfield and it incorporates both Russian and eastern European Jewish dance tunes. 
The concerts are funded by Arts Council Touring and supported by RTE lyric FM and Fóras Éireann.