Welcome
The ninth Waterford New Music Week celebrates the life and works of French composer Olivier Messiaen, (1908-1992), one of the twentieth century's most important figures.
A complete performance of the monumental Vingt regards sur l'enfant Jésus by pianist Simon Mawhinney, the Quatuor pour la fin du temps, written while the composer was a prisoner of war in Silesia, and a wide ranging programme of his organ music played by David Leigh are amongst the highlights of the week together with Music for the End of Time, a collaborative project with movement, costume and staging written by eight composers who take Messiaen's music as their starting point, developing their own ideas for a variety of instrumental and vocal ensembles.
Together with a lively programme of workshops, exhibitions, film and discussions the week offers an unmissable opportunity to experience the work of one of the most influential and unique composers of our time together with an exciting range of contemporary music.
The Festival launch will coincide with the opening of an exhibition, The Art of Sound, by the Contemporary Music Centre in Garter Lane Theatre on Wed Jan 23rd at 7pm. This will be followed by a concert of contemporary guitar music by Michael O’Toole at 8pm. This concert is presented by the WIT Guitar Society.
Admission to concert €15 (€10 conc)
