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Rising Stars Concert

Saxophone / Soprano / Piano

Rising Stars
Rising Stars
Date & Time
Saturday 10th May 2025, 1pm
Venue
St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Blessington 
Ticket Info
Tickets €15 / €10 student concession
(+ booking fee)

For group bookings or for those having any issues booking, please contact manager@westwicklowfestival.com
Artists
Robert Finegan / Saxophone
Clara Barbier-Serrano / Soprano
Joanna Kacperek / Piano
Programme
Operation Sirensong

PARIS CHAPTERS

Le matin au café
Yeats / B. Britten The Salley Gardens
Yeats / Free Improvisation Stream and Sun at Glendalough
Apollinaire / F. Poulenc Voyage à Paris

Midi à l’hôtel
Apollinaire / F. Poulenc Hôtel
Baudelaire / H. Duparc L’invitation au voyage
Ken Edge I, of whom I know nothing

Promenade d’après-midi
B. Britten Quand j’étais chez mon père
Wilde / Lise Borel Le Jardin des Tuileries
N. Boulanger / Denise Ondishko Trois Pièce pour violoncelle No.1

Le soir au bar
Molloy / Bingham Love’s old sweet song
Joyce / Rhona Clarke Sirensong
Scotto / Baker J’ai deux amours

This concert will also feature a new commission by Gráinne Mulvey, as well as the winning work from the West Wicklow Festival and Contemporary Music Centre’s Composition Competition for Emerging Composers.

Join us on Friday, 10th May, for a captivating lunchtime recital led by the festival’s Rising Star, Robert Finegan. This vibrant programme, Paris Chapters, celebrates the magic of Parisian culture through music, poetry, and new commissions.

Irish saxophonist Robert Finegan, a standout talent of his generation, takes the stage alongside soprano Clara Barbier Serrano and pianist Joanna Kacperek for an enchanting recital inspired by Paris. The programme weaves together the poetry of Yeats, Joyce, and Wilde, reflecting their time in the City of Light, with music by Parisian icons such as Poulenc and Josephine Baker. Adding to the allure, the concert features the winning work from the festival’s Composition Competition and a brand-new piece by Irish composer Gráinne Mulvey, offering a fresh and dynamic musical perspective. Don't miss this celebration of artistry and innovation!

'I, of whom I know nothing' by Kenneth Edge - performed by Robert Finegan

One of the most exciting Irish saxophone players in a generation

Robert Finegan has been hailed as "one of the most exciting Irish saxophonists of his generation." Known for his passion for contemporary music, Robert collaborates with composers worldwide to create new works, leading to acclaimed performances across Europe. Alongside his solo and chamber work, Robert has performed with prominent ensembles including the National Symphony Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, and the Britten-Shostakovich Festival Orchestra.

Specialising in the interpretation of new music, Clara Barbier-Serrano collaborates with numerous composers and ensembles. She has received awards at the Concours de Béziers, the Int. Student Lied Duo competition, Lies Askonas competition and ASAO Nuevas Voces. On the opera stage, she has appeared at Oper Leipzig, Verbier Festival Academy, British Youth Opera, Oxford Opera Company, Montpellier and Nice Opera. She was an Académie Jaroussky young artist and from 2024 joined Paris-based company "Opera Fuoco".

As a duo, Clara and Joanna were Oxford Lieder Young Artists, received the Liedinnovation Prize 2023, the Jean Meikle Prize for a Duo at the Wigmore Hall Song Competition and 2nd Prize at the Hugo Wolf int. Song Competition 2024.

Joanna Kacperek is highly celebrated for being a multi-faceted pianist both as a soloist and a collaborative pianist. She has performed in major concert halls in Europe, Canada and Japan and is a prize winner of Grieg International Piano Competition and finalist of Royal Overseas League Competition. Joanna’s debut solo album was released in September last year with Rubicon Classics label.

As a duo, Clara and Joanna were Oxford Lieder Young Artists, received the Liedinnovation Prize 2023, the Jean Meikle Prize for a Duo at the Wigmore Hall Song Competition and 2nd Prize at the Hugo Wolf int. Song Competition 2024.