RTÉ Performing Groups
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RTÉ Performing Groups was a group, operating over many years, of five classical ensembles, part of the
Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...
broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). All but the string quartet (originally the Vanbrugh Quartet, the ConTempo Quartet from 2013) are based in
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
(the ConTempo had a Galway base, Vanbrugh Cork). In 2022 three of the group were moved from RTÉ to aegis of the
National Concert Hall The National Concert Hall (NCH) (An Ceoláras Náisiúnta) is a national cultural institution, sometimes described as "the home of music in Ireland". It comprises the actual concert hall operation, which in various chambers hosts over 1,000 ...
by the Irish government. RTÉ continues to host the
RTÉ Concert Orchestra The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is one of the two full-time professional radio orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ, the national broadcasting station. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestr ...
.


Structure

The ''RTÉ Performing Groups'' were made up of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, a string quartet (under contract the ConTempo Quartet, previously the Vanbrugh Quartet), the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and the children's choir, RTÉ Cór na nÓg, until January 2022. The five groups presented over 250 events annually, including live performances and work in education. The groups were largely funded by
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revenue and reported a 2018 income of €15 million. In 2018, the two orchestras celebrated 70 years in existence. Between the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, a total of 134 professional musicians are employed. The RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and the children's choiry, RTÉ Cór na nÓg, are for singers at an amateur level. Presently, approximately 200 adults and children are incorporated in the choirs. The five groups play approximately two concerts a week, a number which can increase at certain times of year, and present up to 250 events every year, most of these being live concerts. Most of these performances take place in
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
, mostly in the
National Concert Hall The National Concert Hall (NCH) (An Ceoláras Náisiúnta) is a national cultural institution, sometimes described as "the home of music in Ireland". It comprises the actual concert hall operation, which in various chambers hosts over 1,000 ...
but some in The Helix and the National Gallery of Ireland. There is a variety of high-end classical music with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet to RTÉ Concert Orchestra concerts in the fields of
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and
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, classical crossover,
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,
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,
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, multimedia events, family concerts and more. High-profile
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and international artists who have appeared with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra include Han-Na Chang, Louis Lortie and Ann Murray, while acclaimed guests in the orchestra's history included
Sir John Barbirolli Sir John Barbirolli ( Giovanni Battista Barbirolli; 2 December 189929 July 1970) was a British conductor and cellist. He is remembered above all as conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, which he helped save from dissolution in 194 ...
,
Vladimir Ashkenazy Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (russian: Влади́мир Дави́дович Ашкена́зи, ''Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazi''; born 6 July 1937) is an internationally recognized solo pianist, chamber music performer, and conductor. He ...
, Joan Sutherland and Mstislav Rostropovich. RTÉ Concert Orchestra guests have included Luciano Pavarotti,
Plácido Domingo José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French ...
, José Carreras and Kiri Te Kanawa, and more recently Cleo Laine and
John Dankworth Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September 1927 – 6 February 2010), also known as Johnny Dankworth, was an English jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and writer of film scores. With his wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, he ...
, Duke Special, Ute Lemper and Katherine Jenkins. In 2007, all groups featured on a stamp. One million stamps were printed.


Groups with RTÉ


RTÉ Concert Orchestra

The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is the other of the two full-time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to become an active 45-strong orchestra performing over eighty concerts annually.


Groups now with the NCH


National Symphony Orchestra

The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is the concert music orchestra of Radio Telefís Éireann. It has been considered one of Europe's major symphony orchestras. It is the primary symphony orchestra of Dublin and, is the leading orchestra of the Ireland. Jaime Martín is the Chief Conductor.


RTÉ Philharmonic Choir

The RTÉ Philharmonic Choir is RTÉ's main choir. The Choir has been at the centre of choral music in Ireland since its foundation by
Colin Mawby Colin Mawby KSG (9 May 1936 – 24 November 2019) was an English organist, choral conductor and composer. From 1961 he was Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, then from 1981 he was the choral director at Radio Telefís Éireann. He co ...
in 1985 following the introduction of new choral policy. This 140 strong choir is the country's premier symphonic choral ensemble and has performed more than 52 of the major choral works since its foundation, mostly in conjunction with the RTÉ orchestras. Its conductor is Mark Hindley.


RTÉ Cór na nÓg

The RTÉ Cór na nÓg was founded in 1987 and consists of 65 specially-selected children between the ages of 9 and 14 directed by conductor Máire Mannion. Regular performances are made in Dublin (such as the National Concert Hall) and in other counties.


Other groups


RTÉ ConTempo Quartet

RTÉ ConTempo Quartet (Bogdan Sofei, Ingrid Nicola - violins; Andreea Banciu - viola; Adrian Mantu - cello) was the resident string quartet to RTÉ from 2013 to 2022, and are Ensemble in residence to The Galway Music Residency since 2003, and former the Quartet in Residence to Royal Academy of Music London. The RTÉ ConTempo Quartet won a world record of 14 International Prizes including London International String Quartet Competition and is one of Europe's most successful quartets, internationally recognised for its beauty of sound, clarity of texture and integrity of interpretation within an unusually wide and varied range of repertoire.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:RTE Performing Groups