Saturday night next November 3 at 7.30 pm in Knock Basilica will see two of Ireland’s leading female vocalists take to the stage in a concert performance of Handel’s legendary Messiah with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Soprano Anna Devin, an alumna of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden’s Young Artist programme, is an ideal interpreter of Handel’s music and has gained recognition across the world for her work in this repertoire. Described as ‘having a voice as liquid and sparkling as the best champagne’, Devin has relations living in Balla and her grandmother Pat O’Connell lived in Clifden for 28 years and was a prolific painter of the Connemara landscape.
Irish Mezzo Soprano, Kate Allen, enjoys international recognition for her performances in Europe and the USA. She began her studies in Dublin and went on to become the first Irish singer to win a scholarship to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Allen's Dad hails from Galway town and she herself spent a lot of time there as a child. Her grandfather, originally from Waterford, settled in Galway in the 1950s where he met her grandmother, who was from Doonbeg, Co Clare.
Speaking from Stuttgart where she is currently based, Allen said: "I’ve never been to Knock so I’m really looking forward to it and doing my first Messiah there too is very exciting."
They will be joined onstage by tenor Peter O’Reilly, bass John Molloy and a 180 strong choir including members of the Mayo Chamber Choir and Cór Mhaigh Eo.
The perfect early Christmas present, your ticket opens the door to a glittering night of music. Conductor Proinnsías Ó Duinn brings a wealth of experience to the instantly recognisable and inspirational tunes of Handel’s Messiah which will be hosted by RTÉ LyricFM presenter Liz Nolan.
Tickets online at www.knockmessiah.com, at the Knock Shrine Information Office and IT Music, Cavendish Lane, Castlebar and Forster Court, Galway.
