PREMIERE: Irish viola virtuoso CV Lunny performs 'Currents' at Wicklow's Poulaphouca Dam

Wicklow-based viola virtuoso CV Lunny has delivered a spine-tingling rendition of a new performance piece, premiered below by Hot Press.

Titled Currents, the wonderfully atmospheric rendition of an original CV Lunny piece was filmed at Wicklow's Poulaphouca Dam, with the stunning surroundings offering an impressive background to the improvisational music piece.

The film was recorded in January, on site in Wicklow by SoFFT Productions, and captures the beautiful setting for the captivating CV Lunny and company.

Composed by Lunny, the performance also features fellow musicians Izumi Kimura, David Lacey and Niwel Tsumbu. The Currents film is part of a dual project, which will also see the release of a live performance film from the Yurodny Ensemble – to be premiered on Hot Press YouTube on Tuesday. The project was curated by Wicklow Arts Office in partnership with SoFFT Productions.

"We worked very closely with CV Lunny and producer Liz Kelly in creating a visual landscape that reflected the depth of their work," director Natasha Duffy says. "We had many Zooms and chats around how best to do this

"Once the location was chosen, we worked tirelessly to make it happen. The valve house at the dam has never been used as a location before, so it was really exciting to be the first people to film there. CV Lunny’s work deserves this attention."

There's a massively peaceful element to the piece, with Lunny managing to weave through differing textures as the 13 minute clip progresses. Capturing the audience in the palm of their hand with ease, a slight alteration and suddenly the atmosphere can change in a flash.

CV Lunny regularly creates music as a violinist, violist, vocalist and composer. Armed with experience in contemporary, classical, improvised and also folk music, they released their first album, 1943, in 2011. That enormously impressive debut LP was followed by Terminus (Conscientiae) in 2014.

CV Lunny.

A member of Yurodny and Fovea Hex, Lunny frequently performs with Crash Ensemble, solo as a free improviser and in free duo with Izumi Kimura. Lunny has ventured into classical and traditional genres, playing with artists from Nigel Kennedy to Sinead O’Connor.

From the age of thirteen, CV studied intensively with violin teachers around Europe, including Rimma Sushanskaya, Joji Hattori, Alexander Arenkov, Arkady Futer, Lara Lev and Vladimir Spivakov. Lunny has toured Europe, America and China as a violin soloist with the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Having been born into a creative family that includes musician Donal Lunny, photographer Julia Büthe and producer Manus Lunny; it's no surprise CV ventured down the composition path.

CV has also worked on albums and projects with a wide range of artists, including Damien Rice, Republic of Loose, Kanye West, Laura Sheeran, The Jimmy Cake, Camille O’Sullivan, Julie Feeney and The Blizzards. Their skills incorporate improvisation, composition, recording, viola, vocal and ensemble work.

SoFFT Productions have acted as the creative team behind Meath festival SoFFT Nights and Autumn Equinox event Until The Dew Falls. Revisit the film on the Hot Press YouTube channel.

Watch the exclusive premiere of Currents below.