Magnificent Music for a March Evening

Joseph Haydn’s finest work, the Missa in Angustiis (“Nelson Mass”), is the main feature in our concert in early March 2020. Entitled Magnificent Music for a March Evening, the concert features soloists Catherine Redding, Sharon Carty, Galway native Eoin Hynes and Brendan Collins, with organist Ramin Haghjoo.

Under the baton of musical director Norman Duffy, we will present Mozart’s delightful Credo Mass (Mass in C major K. 257), as well as the pensive and powerful sound-world of the Nelson Mass.

“Performing the Missa in Angustiis has been a long-term goal of mine” says Norman Duffy. “Haydn wrote it a time of intense fear for the future of Austria. He was unaware that Lord Nelson’s army dealt Napoleon a stunning defeat in the Battle of the Nile, just as the Mass was being written. The first performances occurred as this news spread around the world, forever linking Nelson’s name to the work in the public mind.”

“We’re delighted to be performing these contrasting works for a Galway audience,” says Carol Duffy, Chairperson of Galway Choral Association. “Our soloists include some of Ireland’s finest singers and we are honoured to work with them. Eoin Hynes is very familiar to Galway audiences, while Catherine, Sharon and Brendan have extensive experience throughout Ireland and internationally.”

The evening also marks the beginning of a two-year collaboration with Davy as the main sponsor of the Galway Choral Association. This partnership with Davy, a trusted market leader in wealth management and self-directed investing services, will enable the choir to look forward and plan concerts with Ireland’s finest musicians, and to undertake more challenging works which need orchestral accompaniment. “As an Irish company, we are extremely proud to support the arts in Ireland and we look forward to partnering with the Galway Choral Association”, added Barry Kennedy, Associate Director, Davy.

Pictured at the announcement by Davy of a 2-year agreement to be main sponsor of Galway Choral Association: Mary Keleghan, Davy Private Clients, Carol Duffy, Michael O'Hare and Carmel Brennan, Galway Choral Association and Barry Kennedy, Davy Private Client. Photo - Boyd Challenger.

The concert is at 8pm on Saturday, 7th March in St. Nicholas’ Collegiate church in Lombard St. Tickets are €20 / €18, available from Eventbrite, Opus II in High St (091 500 300), choir members or at the door.