The Irish Chamber Orchestra will perform two seasonally-themed concerts this Christmas, the first on 15 December at the University Concert Hall, Limerick, and the second on 17 December at the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin.

The ICO will collaborate in a performance of the hugely popular contemporary composer Karl Jenkins’ Stella Natalis (Star of Birth), with the National Chamber Choir, the Irish Chamber Orchestra Chorus and the Country Limerick Youth Choir. Spanish conductor Jaime Martín will lead the performance, with German soprano Susanne Bernhard as soloist.

Stella Natalis deals with typically seasonal messages of peace and thanksgiving, goodwill and compassion, whilst also, in the composer’s words, ‘using a wider palette of inspiration than is usual in such treatments: Zulu text, reference to Hindu gods, as well as the Old Testament, all make an appearance!’ The ICO will expand into a twenty-eight person strong ensemble for the performance.

The ICO will also perform Mozart’s ‘Prague’ Symphony No. 38 in D Major, K. 504. This symphony was composed in December 1786 in Prague, and, whilst it does not feature any explicit Christmas themes, it is of a sufficiently bright and boisterous character as to fit in comfortably with the seasonal celebration.

www.irishchamberorchestra.info/

Pictured: Susannah Bernhard.