In 1994, The Riverdance was performed in the Eurovision Song Contest, arousing the global audience’s passions despite its length of only seven minites. At that time, the orchestra has played music for Riverdance. The famous Irish orchestra, which has a history of 70 years, is always ready to challenge the limits of performance, and does well in playing not only to Irish music, but also classical music, film music and pop music.

At the New Year’s concert held by the RTE Concert Orchestra, the orchestra will offer the NCPA audience a colourful evening feast of New Year music composed of pieces different in style under the leadership of Irish native conductor David Brophy. The orchestra will perform the music of Riverdance. Besides, it will first perform Johann Strauss Family’s classics, “pieces in the repertoire” of New Year’s concert, in the first half. Then, it will perform Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen and Franz Waxman’s Carmen Fantasie, two virtuoso and touching violin works of the Gypsy style, with violinist NING Feng.

In the second half, the orchestra will perform Cead Mile Failte (A Hundred Thousand Welcomes), An Cuilin, Finnegans Wake and several traditional Irish music solos played by Irish folk violinist Zoe Conway, to show the audience a music culture with exceptional features. In addition, the orchestra, which performed background music for many event films, will play the original music of film scores of Mise Eire and The Lord of the Rings.

by NCPA