Programme:
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Da unten im Tale, WoO 33, No. 6
Von ewiger Liebe, Op. 43, No. 1
Liebestreu, Op. 3, No. 1
Das Mädchen spricht, Op. 107, No. 3
Die Mainacht, Op. 43, No. 2
Dein blaues Auge, Op. 59, No. 8
Sapphische Ode, Op. 94, No. 4
Vergebliches Ständchen, Op. 84, No. 4
Clara Schumann (1819-1896)
Sechs Lieder, Op. 13
Ich stand in dunklen Träumen
Sie liebten sich beide
Liebeszauber
Der Mond kommt still gegangen
Ich hab’ in deinem Auge
Die stille Lotosblume
Victoria Massey, mezzo-soprano.
As one of Ireland’s leading mezzo-sopranos, Victoria Massey commands an eclectic vocal repertoire spanning the genres of opera, oratorio, art song, and musical theatre. The Dublin-born singer has enchanted audiences of the finest opera houses in Europe with her engaging interpretation of roles in operas of Steffani, Mozart, Busoni, Gounod, Richard Strauss, Britten, Wagner and Balfe.
Recognition of Victoria’s sophisticated vocal virtuosity has led to invitations to perform in Ireland, the UK, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Austria, and Mexico. She is particularly respected for her work as a soloist in celebrated oratorios such as Vivaldi’s Gloria, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Bach’s Weihnachts-Oratoriumand Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, Rossini’s Stabat Materand Petite Messe Solennelle, and Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius.
To date, Victoria’s international festival profile includes appearances at Macerata Opera Festival (Italy), Opera Festival Klosterneuburg (Austria), Chiemgau Summer Festival (Bavaria), Belem Cultural Festival (Lisbon), and Altolivenza Festival (Italy). She has sung with the Royal Opera Covent Garden, Teatro La Fenice, Opera Theatre Company, and Opera Ireland. Victoria made her Mexican debut in Elgar’s Sea Pictures and Mahler’s Kindertotenliederin 2014. The following year saw her perform in Kecskemet, Hungary with pianist Balázs Székely as part of the Kodály Art Festival.
A former student of the Hochschule Mozarteum in Salzburg and a first-class honours graduate of the Masters in Performance Programme at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, Massey’s vocal talents have garnered recognition from prestigious musical bodies such as Ireland’s Feis Ceoil, Italy’s C.A Seghizzi International Choral Singing Competition, and the Lombard and Ulster Bursary Award. Her voice can be heard on a number of RTÉ lyric fm recordings. As a seasoned performer, Victoria is in constant demand for her pedagogical and adjudicating skills.
Niall Kinsella, piano.
Irish pianist Niall Kinsella studied at University College Dublin, Maynooth University. He graduated from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin with a Masters in Piano Accompaniment in 2014, following which furthered his postgraduate studies in lieder accompaniment and chamber music at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, under the tuition of Professor Barbara Moser.
While in Austria, Niall studied German lieder performance and interpretation at the Franz-Schubert-Institut, Baden-bei-Wien with the likes of Graham Johnson, Roger Vignoles, Helmut Deutsch, Julius Drake, Wolfram Reiger, Robert Holl and Elly Ameling, and at the International Summer Academy of the Mozarteum University, Salzburg with Wolfgang Holzmair and Dalton Baldwin.
Fast establishing himself as one of the most exciting Irish accompanists of his generation, Niall has performed with many of the county’s most respected singers including Celine Byrne, Cara O’Sullivan, Sandra Oman, Sylvia O’Brien, Raphaela Mangan, Sharon Carty, Gavan Ring and Owen Gilhooly. He has performed extensively across Europe: in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Italy and Ireland in venues such as Vienna’s Musikverein, Konzerthaus, Mozarthaus Wien, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, The Liszt Academy, Budapest, and regularly at Dublin’s National Concert Hall, where he curates and performs an annual series of song recitals.
His debut CD, The Complete Songs and Airs of John F. Larchet, will be released internationally on Champs Hill Records (UK) this year and his choral arrangements have been published worldwide by Boosey & Hawkes/Hal Leonard Corporation.
More information at: www.niallkinsella.com