NCH unveils livestream series highlights with Lisa O'Neill, Chamber Choir Ireland and more

The National Concert Hall (NCH) is releasing a series of their livestream highlights from 2020, encouraging the public to stay connected through culture while riding out the third lockdown.

The enigmatic artists whose livestreams will be made available include: master fiddler Martin Hayes with special guests, celebrated Irish pianist Barry Douglas, award-winning singer songwriter Lisa O’Neill and the remarkable Chamber Choir Ireland.

The livestream series highlights are available to watch from now until January 31st from NCH.ie and NCH YouTube and Facebook pages.

Lisa O’Neill’s livestream – ‘Reflections: A Solo Concert by Lisa O’Neill’ – is a performance filled with all her idiosyncratic wit and insight. A songwriter like no other, her roots may be sourced in folk and traditional music but her work opens up a landscape beyond any settled sense of genre. Addressing an empty NCH, she takes the listeners on a musical journey from Raglan Road to songs on the work of Mother Jones in a powerful concert that displays her stirring voice and storytelling through song. Originally streamed in June 2020, the concert was supported by Davy, as Innovation Partner, Culture Ireland, RTE.ie and The Irish Times, as part of the NCH Livestream Series.

Arguably Ireland’s finest classical pianist, Barry Douglas celebrates his Irish heritage while expanding his global presence through performance. He plays the classic Carrickfergus and Mussorgksy’s much-loved Pictures at an Exhibition in a spell-binding recital that showcases Barry’s virtuosity and musicality. Originally streamed on the 19th of June, 2020, the concert was supported by Davy, as Innovation Partner, Culture Ireland, RTE.ie and The Irish Times, as part of the NCH Livestream Series.

The country's national chamber choir and flagship choral ensemble, Chamber Choir Ireland offers a mesmerising performance of the works of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, with whom they have a long-standing relationship, in their concert titled “A Sad Song for these Distracted Times”. This concert was part of the NCH Classical Livestream Series, supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

A master of traditional music, fiddler Martin Hayes is said to have ‘sought and found a balance between the deep internal exploration of the local and the adventurous exploration of the global’. For this livestream, Hayes – joined by new collaborators, pianist Cormac McCarthy and concertina, harmonium and bouzouki player Brian Donnellan – led an evening of authentic Irish music and virtuoso interplay. This was their first concert together showcasing a range of well-known tunes in unique arrangements, and it resulted in a new EP by Hayes, called Live at the NCH 2020 Originally streamed in December, this concert was presented as part of the NCH Imagining Ireland Series in partnership with Davy as Innovation Partner, Culture Ireland, and Serious UK. Watch Martin Hayes perform 'Moondance' for Rave On, Van Morrison here.