PRESS RELEASE: Banish winter’s chill with Duruflé’s warm harmonies

Galway Choral Association is presenting Duruflé’s REQUIEM Opus 9 later this month to help raise funds to equip a Family Room in one of Galway’s disability support centres.

Under the leadership of musical director Norman Duffy, the choir will be accompanied by Galway Cathedral organist Ray O’Donnell and will perform with contralto soloist Sarah Ellen Murphy

Also performing is Cor Mhaigh Eo, an award-winning choir based in Castlebar. Directed by Dr Brian Lennon, the choir will perform works by composers ranging from 16th century Monteverdi right through to contemporary composers like Lauridsen and Lucaszewski.

“This will be an uplifting concert for bleak January!” says Carol Duffy, Chairperson of the Galway Choral Association. ”The Duruflé Requiem is a very approachable work, but it has some challenging material which the choir has greatly enjoyed learning. We understand that it hasn’t been performed in Galway for quite some time, and are really looking forward to sharing it with a local audience”.

St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church is one of the choir’s favourite venues, and has an acoustic which really shows the beauty of works from the choral repertoire.

“This Requiem is spiritual,” says musical director Norman Duffy. “Written by French composer Maurice Duruflé ((1902 – 1986), who was influenced by his colleague Fauré, it was completed in 1947. The work has nine movements, progressing from the Introit through to two texts from the traditional burial service, Libera me and In Paradisum. Overall the work has a calm, melodic quality”.

The Galway branch of Enable Ireland has been selected as the charity partner for the event. Funds raised will go towards equipment for a family room at their local centre, which will be used for life skills with teenagers and adolescents, as well as for liaising with parents about their child’s progress or therapy plans. “We are delighted to acknowledge the support which Enable Ireland provides”, Carol Duffy said, “and to assist them in their support of local families”.

The concert is being held at 8pm on Saturday 30 January, in St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Lombard St. Tickets are €15 (€12 concession) and are available from Opus II on High St, Phone 091-500300, from Enable Ireland, or from choir members.

Our next concert - Saturday 30 January

Tickets are also available from the Opus II shop on High Street.