Mayo to stage very special music concert

One of the biggest and most ambitious orchestral events to be staged in Mayo for many years is taking place at the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar, on Friday, May 15, at 8pm.

Billed as 'The Music of Morricone, Zimmer and Williams', the audience will experience cinema like never before with a 100-piece orchestra and choir on stage.

Planning and rehearsals have been ongoing since last October under the skilled leadership of widely-known and respected Mayo composer and musical director Kathy Fahey.

She said: "The music of Ennio Morricone, Hans Zimmer, and John Williams has inspired me for many years - not just for its colour and scale, but for its power to tell stories that stay with us.

"I have long dreamed of presenting a concert of their finest music and the 30th anniversary of Mayo Concert Orchestra, along with my 10th year as musical director of the orchestra, felt like the perfect moment to bring this programme to life, celebrating how far we have come and embracing an exciting new challenge together."

The programme includes such greatly-loved classics as the themes from the box-office hit movies Jurassic Park, The Mission, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Superman, Cinema Paradiso, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, Schindler's List, Harry Potter ( Hedwig's theme) and Amistad ( Dry Your Tears, Africa).

It also includes Chi Mia from the 1971 film, Maddalena, The Da Vinci Code orchestral suite, Pearl Harbour orchestral suite, The Lion King orchestral suite and Solomon from 12 Years A Slave.

The orchestra is joined by Vocalessence Ladies Choir, whose contribution adds a rich dimension to the music.

Kathy adds: "We are thrilled to welcome guest musicians and friends of the orchestra from across the country, whose presence makes the celebration concert even more special."

Everybody has a favourite piece of music which they first heard in a movie they loved and helped enrich their lives.

Tickets are on sale from Ticketmaster and the TF Royal Theatre website as well as from reception at the TF Royal Theatre.

There has also ready been a strong flow of ticket sales and a continuation of this trend over the coming weeks will ensure the success of what promises to be a magical one-night show and one not to be missed by orchestral music lovers.

Music West, the organisation staging the concert, is thankful for the support it is receiving from the business community and local elected representatives.