World Premiere for 'NSO: The Music of Bill Whelan' show in National Concert Hall

The National Concert Hall have announced a special performance of orchestral works by composer Bill Whelan, which will include the world premiere of new version for orchestra of 'Stolen Hearts'.

Taking place on July 5,'NSO: The Music of Bill Whelan' will include two of Whelan's Eurovision-related pieces: Riverdance and 'Timedance'.

'Timedance', composed by Whelan and Donal Lunny for the 1981 Eurovision interval act will be performed by orchestra and traditional soloists.

The performance will include contributions from a plethora of highly accomplished musicians, including Gavin Maloney as conductor, Julieanne Forrest on violin, fiddle player Athena Tergis, Séamus Ó Flatharta on whistle, harp, voice and bodhrán,  Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta playing fiddle and singing and Tara Howley performing the uilleann pipes.

Aedín Gormley will act as MC for the night while Bill Whelan will perform on keys.

However it's not just Whelan's Eurovision work that will make up the celebration.  A new version for orchestra of 'Stolen Hearts', featuring Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta, will have its world premiere.

'Hymn to a Broken Marriage', which will be performed by Whelan himself, movingly sets to music Paul Durcan’s elegiac poem to lost love.

Also promised in the programmes bill is a performance of 'Flying Blind', a song written by Whelan in the early part of his career. This song will also be performed by the composer.

The 'NSO: The Music of Bill Whelan', takes place as Riverdance embarks on a 25th anniversary tour of the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom.

To date, 22 million people have seen Riverdance The Show live, and to coincide with the 25^th anniversary tour, Bill completed a new studio recording of the music from Riverdance with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Ticket's for the show are priced from €20 and are available for purchase here.