Irish Chamber Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) is a Irish classical music ensemble, administratively based at the University of Limerick
. The ICO primarily gives concerts at the University Concert Hall, Limerick and at the RDS (Royal Dublin Society
) Concert Hall, Dublin. The ICO has also performed in other Irish cities, including Tuam
, Wexford
, Kinsale
, Skibereen, Portmagee
, Kilkee
, Castleblaney, Omagh
, Sligo
, Clifden
, Ennis
and Thurles
.
János Fürst
founded the ICO in 1963. The ICO consisted only of strings as its regular ensemble for many years, adding wind, brass and percussion players on a freelance basis when needed. The ICO was reformed in 1970 under the name of the New Irish Chamber Orchestra and the principal conductorship of André Prieur. The orchestra first toured North American in 1978. In 1995, the orchestra was again reconstituted, reverting to its original name of the Irish Chamber Orchestra. The ICO formally added horn players and an oboist to its roster in 2008.
Other artistic directors and music directors of the ICO have included Nicholas Kraemer
(1986-1992), Fionnuala Hunt (1995-2002) and Nicholas McGegan
(2002-2005). The most recent artistic director was violinist Anthony Marwood
, who was named the ICO's Artistic Director in April 2005 and formally assumed the post in January 2006. Marwood concluded his tenure after the 2010-2011 season.
The ICO has recorded commercially for the Black Box label. The former New Irish Chamber Orchestra made commercial recordings for the Pickwick label, a recording of the two Mozart flute concerti with James Galway
, and for the Onyx label, piano concertos of John Field
with John O'Conor.
University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is a university in Ireland near the city of Limerick on the island's west coast. It was established in 1972 as the National Institute for Higher Education, Limerick and became a university by statute in 1989 in accordance with the University of Limerick Act 1989...
. The ICO primarily gives concerts at the University Concert Hall, Limerick and at the RDS (Royal Dublin Society
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
) Concert Hall, Dublin. The ICO has also performed in other Irish cities, including Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
, Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
, Skibereen, Portmagee
Portmagee
Portmagee is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. The village is located on the west coast of Ireland, on Kerry's Iveragh peninsula south of Valentia Island. The name in Irish means 'the ferry', referring to its purpose as a crossing point to the island...
, Kilkee
Kilkee
Kilkee is a small coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is located midway between Kilrush and Doonbeg on the N67 road. The town, one of the most famous resorts in Ireland, is particularly popular as a seaside resort with people from Limerick City...
, Castleblaney, Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
, Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
, Clifden
Clifden
Clifden is a town on the coast of County Galway, Ireland and being Connemara's largest town, it is often referred to as "the Capital of Connemara". It is located on the Owenglen River where it flows into Clifden Bay...
, Ennis
Ennis
Ennis is the county town of Clare in Ireland. Situated on the River Fergus, it lies north of Limerick and south of Galway. Its name is a shortening of the original ....
and Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
.
János Fürst
János Fürst
János Fürst was a Hungarian-born conductor and violinist.János Fürst originally studied the violin at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in his native Budapest. After the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary, he continued studies at the conservatory in Brussels. He attended the Conservatoire de Paris...
founded the ICO in 1963. The ICO consisted only of strings as its regular ensemble for many years, adding wind, brass and percussion players on a freelance basis when needed. The ICO was reformed in 1970 under the name of the New Irish Chamber Orchestra and the principal conductorship of André Prieur. The orchestra first toured North American in 1978. In 1995, the orchestra was again reconstituted, reverting to its original name of the Irish Chamber Orchestra. The ICO formally added horn players and an oboist to its roster in 2008.
Other artistic directors and music directors of the ICO have included Nicholas Kraemer
Nicholas Kraemer
Nicholas Kraemer is a British harpsichordist and conductor. Kraemer began his career as a harpsichordist...
(1986-1992), Fionnuala Hunt (1995-2002) and Nicholas McGegan
Nicholas McGegan
Nicholas McGegan OBE is a British harpsichordist, flautist, conductor and early music expert....
(2002-2005). The most recent artistic director was violinist Anthony Marwood
Anthony Marwood
Anthony Marwood is a solo classical violinist, appearing in concerto performances worldwide with orchestras such as the Boston Symphony, LA Philharmonic, St Louis Symphony, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the UK's BBC orchestras, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony and the...
, who was named the ICO's Artistic Director in April 2005 and formally assumed the post in January 2006. Marwood concluded his tenure after the 2010-2011 season.
The ICO has recorded commercially for the Black Box label. The former New Irish Chamber Orchestra made commercial recordings for the Pickwick label, a recording of the two Mozart flute concerti with James Galway
James Galway
- External links : IMGArtists.com 15 September 2008. AllAboutJazz.com 5 August 2008.*...
, and for the Onyx label, piano concertos of John Field
John Field (composer)
John Field was an Irish pianist, composer, and teacher. He was born in Dublin into a musical family, and received his early education there. The Fields soon moved to London, where Field studied under Muzio Clementi...
with John O'Conor.
Music Directors and Artistic Directors
- János Fürst
- André Prieur
- Nicholas Kraemer (Artistic Director, 1986-1992)
- Fionnuala Hunt (Music Director, 1995-2002)
- Nicholas McGegan (Music Director, 2002-2005)
- Anthony Marwood (Artistic Director, 2006-2011)