Dublin City Choral Union presents Hummel's thrilling Mass No. 3 in D Major, with Beethoven's equally exhilarating Hallelujah from Christ on the Mount of Olives, on Sunday 8th June, in St Andrew’s Church, Dublin 2.

The choir will be accompanied by orchestra led by renowned violinist David O'Doherty and conducted by Duncan Brickenden.

• Tickets: €25/€20 (concession) from Eventbrite and on the door.

• Doors: 4.10pm

• Duration: 75 minutes

Johann Nepomuk Hummel’s “Missa No. 3 in D Major” is a shining example of early 19th-century sacred choral composition. Composed during a period influenced by Beethoven and Schubert, Hummel’s Mass demonstrates a harmonious blend of Classical structure and Romantic lyricism.

Opening in the jubilant key of D major, the Mass unfolds with Hummel’s signature melodic charm and expressive depth. In comparison to his contemporaries like Haydn and Mozart, Hummel’s Mass showcases a distinct harmonic richness. The interplay between choral and orchestral elements creates a work that is both grand and melodically captivating.

Hummel’s sensitivity to text and adept orchestration is evident throughout the Mass. From dramatic choral passages to moments of sublime lyricism, Hummel navigates a spectrum of emotions, leaving an enduring impression of his contribution to the evolving landscape of 19th-century sacred choral music.

In addition to the Hummel, DCCU will perform two shorter works by Beethoven: "Hallelujah" from his oratorio Christ on the Mount of Olives, and "Elegischer Gesang".

Dublin City Choral Union will be performing a 45 minute lunchtime concert in St. Mary’s Church, Westport on Sunday 2nd of March 2025, at 1.30pm.

The concert will include Vivaldi’s Credo 592 and Mozart's Te Deum in C.

Entrance is free, but there will be a retiring collecting in aid of Holy Trinity parish funds.

- Family friendly
- Doors open at 1.15pm

Huge thanks to St Mary’s for hosting the event while Holy Trinity deals with major storm damage of their beautiful church.

Join Dublin City Choral Union on Sunday, January 26th for a magnificent Baroque concert featuring Alessandro Scarlatti’s masterpiece, Dixit Dominus and Vivaldi’s Credo RV592.

These exquisite Baroque works will be sung by a choir of 120 singers, with soloists Katy Kelly, Anna Brady, William Pearson and Rory Dunne, accompanied by an orchestra led by David O'Doherty. The concert will be conducted by Duncan Brickenden.

Alessandro Scarlatti set the text of Dixit Dominus several times but his setting for four voices and four soloists is arguably the most beautiful and thrilling of all. With elaborate, decorative vocal lines supported by heavenly strings and intricate interplay between the choir and the soloists, this setting matches some of the other great settings by Baroque masters such as Vivaldi who also set this text to music.

However, for this concert DCCU will perform Vivaldi's Credo RV592. Of his two settings of the Credo text, this is said to be his most successful interpretation of the creed. Riveting music throughout, balanced with heavenly moments, Vivaldi's full character is on display: a pious man with a fiery disposition living up to his nickname, The Red Priest!

Concert commences at 4.30 pm. Doors 4.10 pm. Duration: 75-90 minutes.

Tickets are available from Eventbrite, with a limited number available at the door.

CAROLS FOR FOCUS IRELAND AT DUNDRUM

We will be carolling in aid of Focus Ireland, from 7pm to 8pm on Wednesday 18 December, 2024 at Dundrum Shopping Centre.

Please come along and enjoy the singing while you do a spot of Christmas shopping, and make a donation to help fight homelessness.

Hope to see you there!

SING WITH US

*All available audition slots for Sopranos and Altos have now been filled. If you are a Tenor or Bass, please email dublincitychoralunion@gmail.com to apply for an audition.

Dublin City Choral Union will be holding auditions in Dublin 2, on Friday, 6 September 2024, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Entry to the choir is following a short audition with the choir director, consisting of vocal exercises and aural tests.

Previous experience singing in choirs similar to DCCU is desirable. While we are a sight-reading choir, the ability to read music is preferable, but not compulsory when applying to audition. Line tapes are available to all choir members to help them to learn their music by ear.

We require regular attendance from choir members and willingness to work on your music between rehearsals. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings in St. Ann's Church, Dawson St, Dublin 2.

For further details and to apply for an audition, please email your choral experience/background to dublincitychoralunion@gmail.com

Dublin City Choral Union present CPE Bach's Magnificat in D and Mozart's Te Deum.

Join us in beautiful St Andrew’s Church on Sunday 9th June, to hear our philharmonic choir of 120 singers, soloists Anastasia Sereda, Leanne Fitzgerald, Aidan Atkinson & Matt Mannion, and a wonderful orchestra led by David O'Doherty, perform these magnificent choral works.

Tickets: €20/€15. Available from Eventbrite or at the door.

Doors: 4.10pm

ABOUT THIS EVENT

Magnificat in D, composed by C.P.E. Bach (son of J.S. Bach), is a masterpiece of choral music which demonstrates the composer's unique style and ingenuity as we transition from the Baroque style to Classical. From its dazzling opening chorus to its intimate arias, the Magnificat combines traditional elements with innovative harmonies and unexpected, exciting twists and turns for the era in which it was written.

Mozart's Te Deum is arguably one of his most exciting choral compositions. Demonstrating his precocious genius, having written it in 1769 at the age of only 13, this work being sung in the cathedral-like acoustics of St. Andrew's, will have you, the audience, on the edge of your seats.

Lunchtime Recital in aid of Enniscorthy & Monart Union of Parishes

Dublin City Choral Union will be performing a short 45 minute concert in St. Mary’s Church (C of I) Enniscorthy, on Sunday 3 March at 2pm.

The concert will include some well known music including Vivaldi’s Gloria, Somewhere Over the Rainbow and much more.

Entrance is free, but there will be a retiring collecting in aid of parish funds.

- Family friendly

- Doors open at 1.40pm

Our next concert takes place on Sunday, 28 January 2024 at St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2. We will be performing the exquisitely beautiful ‘Stabat Mater’ by Emanuele d’Astorga as well as Antonio Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’, with full choir, orchestra and soloists.

Conducted by: Duncan Brickenden

Soloists: Aimee Kearney, Eilís Dexter, Sean Tester, Eoin Foran

Orchestra led by: David O'Doherty

Vivaldi's Gloria is a renowned Baroque choral masterpiece that has captivated and inspired audiences for centuries. It is a sacred piece of music that forms an essential part of the sacred choral repertoire. The composition is a stunning example of Vivaldi's mastery of the Baroque style, characterised by its ornate melodies, rich harmonies, and skillful use of counterpoint. The piece showcases Vivaldi's innovative and daring approach to composing, with its complex interplay of voices and intricate musical structures. The stylistic elements of the Gloria, including its use of contrast, virtuosity, and dramatic expression, make it a quintessential example of the Baroque era and solidify Vivaldi's legacy as one of the greatest composers of his time.

Emanuele d'Astorga's Stabat Mater is a composition that showcases both the musical and emotional depth of the Baroque era. This masterpiece, believed to have been written in the early 18th century, is a revered piece in the musical canon although rarely performed.

The Stabat Mater is a sacred work that sets to music the sorrowful text of the 13th-century poem by Jacopone da Todi. The expressive and intricate melodies, coupled with the poignant lyrics, create a powerful and emotive experience for listeners and we are delighted to be bringing it to Ireland where we believe it has not been performed for quite some time, if ever.

CAROLS FOR FOCUS IRELAND AT DUNDRUM

We will be carolling in aid of Focus Ireland, from 7pm to 8pm on Wednesday 13 December, 2023 at Dundrum Shopping Centre.

Please come along and enjoy the singing while you do a spot of Christmas shopping, and make a donation to help fight homelessness.

Hope to see you there!

SING WITH US

Dublin City Choral Union will be holding auditions for the forthcoming Autumn 2023 term, on Wednesday, 6 September 2023 at Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2.

Entry to the choir is following a short audition with the choir director, consisting of vocal exercises and aural tests.

Previous experience singing in choirs similar to DCCU is desirable. While we are a sight-reading choir, the ability to read music is preferable, but not compulsory when applying to audition. Line tapes are available to all choir members to help them to learn their music by ear.

We require regular attendance from choir members and willingness to work on your music between rehearsals. We rehearse on Wednesday evenings in St. Ann's Church, Dawson St, Dublin 2.

For further details and to apply for an audition, please email your choral experience/background to dublincitychoralunion@gmail.com

Dublin City Choral Union presents:

Haydn’s Heiligmesse & two new pieces by Seán Doherty

Comprising a choir of over 100 people with orchestra, the concert also features four wonderful Irish soloists for Haydn's Heiligmesse: Megan O'Neill (Soprano), Gemma Ní Bhríain (Mezzo Soprano), Eamonn Mulhall (Tenor) and Rory Musgrave (Baritone).

Dublin City Choral Union is also delighted to premiere two new pieces by contemporary Irish composer Seán Doherty: “Mother” (a choral piece, with lyrics based on the Lola Ridge poem of the same name) and “Paddy’s Rambles Through The Gravel Walks” (an orchestral piece).

We’d love you to join us for all of these special works in beautiful St Andrew’s Church!

Tickets €20/€15 available from Eventbrite or at the door.

Dublin City Choral Union presents:

Requiem in C Minor by Luigi Cherubini

SOLD OUT!

Conducted by: Duncan Brickenden Orchestra led by: David O’ Doherty

The Requiem in C Minor for mixed chorus and orchestra was written in 1816 by Italian composer Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842) and was greatly admired by many other composers, especially Beethoven, who requested this requiem at his own funeral.

It comprises seven movements and, unusually, does not feature any vocal soloists. Even more unusually, it features a single stroke of a tam-tam (gong-like instrument) at the start of the Dies Irae.

Please do join us to hear this wonderful and little-performed work with full choir and large orchestra in the lovely surroundings and acoustic of St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2.

Time & venue: Sunday 29 January 2023, 5pm, St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2.

Tickets: €20, €15 concession (pensioners, students, unwaged).

Dublin City Choral Union presents:

Music of the Romantics - Sacred Motets & Franz Schubert Mass No.2 in G Major

Conducted by: Duncan Brickenden

Soloists: Sylvia O'Brien (soprano), Andrew Gavin (tenor) & Owen Gilhooly (bass-baritone).

PROGRAMME:

Sacred Motets

• Bruckner: Christus Factus Est, Locus Iste, Ave Maria

• Poulenc: Salve Regina

• Tchaikovsky: Hymn to the Trinity

Schubert Mass No.2 in G Major

Schubert’s masterful setting of the traditional Mass texts in Mass No.2 in G Major, composed when he was 18, pushes the boundaries of traditional Mass settings from the Baroque and Classical eras. The orchestration for strings and organ supports a vivacious choral texture. While the Mass does utilise some loud and fiery passages of text and orchestration within its six movements, it ultimately retains a soft and peaceful quality that evokes a devotional mood.

Time & venue: Sunday 12 June 2022, 5pm, St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2.

Tickets €15/€10: Available to buy online from Eventbrite. There will be no tickets available on the door.

Dublin City Choral Union presents:

Haydn Kleine Orgelmesse (Little Organ Mass) & Mozart Missa Brevis in Bb K275

Conducted by: Duncan Brickenden

Soloists: Mairéad Buicke, soprano; Raphaela Mangan, mezzo-soprano; Gavan Ring, tenor & Rory Dunne, bass.

Concert duration: 60 minutes. Masks must be worn by audience members at all times.

Dublin City Choral Union is delighted to present our first formal concert in two years. Our four-part philharmonic choir of over 100 singers has worked through the pandemic online and, more recently, in a hybrid fashion through online and in-person rehearsals.

We've been preparing two of the most renowned choral works of the classical era from Haydn and Mozart, and bring together the choir, an orchestra and soloists for our return to live performance.

Time & venue: Sunday 27 February 2022, 5pm, St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2.

Tickets €15/10: Available to buy online from Eventbrite. There will be no tickets available on the door.

CAROLS FOR FOCUS IRELAND

We will be carolling in aid of Focus Ireland, at Temple Bar Square, Dublin 2, from 7pm to 8pm on Wednesday 15 December.

Please come along and enjoy the singing and make a donation to help fight homelessness.

MUSIC BY SCHUBERT, HAYDN & BRUCKNER

Cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

This concert was due to take place on June 7th, 2020 at St Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin but was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. We hope to be able to bring this beautiful programme of music to you at a later date.

The programme includes works by Austrian composers Haydn, Schubert and Bruckner.

Please check back soon for more information.

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical era and was instrumental in the development of chamber music. At the age of six, he went to live and train with a relative who was a choirmaster and at the age of eight became a chorister in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna. After nine years there with very little in the way of formal music education, he subsequently taught himself music theory and composition. Read more…

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. One of fourteen children, Schubert wrote his earliest string quartets for a family ensemble comprising himself, two brothers and their father. In 1804, he came to the attention of Antonio Salieri, then Vienna's leading musical authority, and obtained a choir scholarship to the Imperial Seminary, where he became an admirer of the works of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Salieri later trained him privately in music theory and composition. Read more…

MUSIC BY MONTEVERDI & PURCELL

Our next concert takes place on Sunday, 26 January 2020 at 5pm in St. Andrew’s Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2.

Conducted by Duncan Brickenden, the choir will perform works by Henry Purcell and Claudio Monteverdi, featuring guest soloists Eoin Conway, countertenor, Rory Lynch, tenor and Tristan Caldwell, bass. The orchestra will be led by David O’ Doherty with organist David Grealy. The programme includes Monteverdi's "Beatus Vir" and Purcell's anthems "Rejoice in the Lord Alway", "O Sing Unto The Lord" and "I Was Glad".

Time and venue:  Sunday 26 January 2020, 5pm, St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2. Tickets will be available to buy from Eventbrite and will be also available on the door.

Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) spent the earlier part of his life in Cremona and he subsequently worked at the court of Mantua and then the Republic of Venice but the vagaries of patronage and court politics meant that he struggled financially for most of his life. He composed both sacred and secular music and is considered a pioneer of opera, of which he wrote three. The best-known of these is “Orfeo”, composed in 1607, which is still regularly performed today. Read more…

Henry Purcell (1659-1695) is considered to be the best English composer of the baroque era. As a child, he was a chorister at the Chapel Royal and is said to have started composing at the age of 9. He subsequently went on to become organist at Westminster Abbey and the Chapel Royal. He composed anthems for the royal family, music for the stage and sacred music. Read more…

HUMMEL & WESLEY

Dublin City Choral Union presents Hummel’s Mass in Bb, Op. 77 and Wesley’s Ascribe unto the Lord on Sunday May 26th, conducted by Duncan Brickenden, with David Grealy, organ.

Time and venue: Sunday 26 May 2019 at 5pm, St. Stephen’s Church (Pepper Canister), Mount Street Crescent, Dublin 2. Tickets €15, €10.

Following a sell-out concert featuring music by Handel in January, the choir has been working on Johann Nepomuk Hummel’s Mass in Bb. Hummel, renowned for his trumpet concerti and choral Masses, wrote several commissions for the Esterházy family (who were also patrons of Haydn and Beethoven). This was Hummel’s first commission for the House of Esterházy and, although not accorded the praise it deserved at the time, it has since gained a reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative choral compositions of the classical period.

Samuel Sebastian Wesley composed Ascribe Unto the Lord in the 1850s and it has remained a signature piece in the English choral music tradition ever since. With dramatic, riveting sections comparable to an oratorio, Ascribe Unto the Lord represents some of the boldest and most glorious choral music written in the 19th century.

We are delighted to welcome David Grealy for his debut concert with Dublin City Choral Union and as its resident accompanist.

HANDEL ANTHEMS

Our next concert will take place on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 5pm at St. Andrews Church, Westland Row, in Dublin City Centre. The choir will perform a selection of Handel Anthems including "Zadok the Priest", "The King Shall Rejoice" and "O Praise the Lord with One Consent".

The choir will be conducted by Duncan Brickenden and accompanied by an ensemble and featuring soloists Claudia Boyle, soprano and Owen Gilhooley, tenor.

Time and venue: Sunday 26 January 2020, 5pm, St. Andrew's Church, Westland Row, Dublin 2. Tickets will be available to buy from Eventbrite and will be also available on the door.