The Celestial Stranger in Dublin
The Irish Premiere of The Celestial Stranger took place in Dublin on 31 January 2025
Gavan Ring, Stephen McNeff and Lina González-Granados. Image Joanne Taaffe/NSO
“The cycle was a powerful demonstration of inventive orchestration and Ring delivered an immense performance, launching himself fully into the piece.” Andrew Smith - The Journal of Music. (Full review click here.)
Backstage after the performance. Image Joanne Taaffe/NSO
“Quiet, ominous brass and palpitating percussion opened the first song. Gavan Ring gave an animated account, capturing the mystery of the text. His voice was powerful and lively… The calm opening of the third song As Time draws Nigh gave way to a lively, rhythmically taut account of Whitman’s poem. The hollow chimes and intense swells of the final song Farewell to thee were atmospheric, while the last chord was positively eerie.” Andrew Larkin Bachtrack
The full concert from Dublin on 31st January is available from the RTÉ Lyric FM website at this link. (Paul Herriot’s introduction The Celestial Stranger starts at 47.16”). This concert features conductor Lina Gonzalez-Granados as well as tenor Gavan Ring and the National Symphony Orchestra
Click here to listen to four excerpts from the performance with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Jac van Steen
Excerpt 1: The opening of the first song The Celestial Stranger which paints a picture of the vastness of space and introduces our ’Stranger’. It’s 2.21”
Excerpt 2: The opening of The Hand that Signed the Paper in which we hear about the evil of autocratic rule. 1.33”
Excerpt 3: Farewell to Thee in which our Stranger takes leave of the newly discovered world 2.31”
There is an extra Excerpt 4 which lasts 2.04” and is from As Time Draws Nigh where we hear about a fast-paced world and the fear of coming conflict full of phantoms.
*The Celestial Stranger is published by Peters Edition/Wise Music with full details available here. An online full score is available for perusal*