THE 40TH Music in Great Irish Houses festival, which runs from June 12th to 19th, will include a concert at the residence of US ambassador Dan Rooney.
The event on June 16th at Deerpark in the Phoenix Park will feature violinist Arabella Steinbacher and pianist Robert Kulek, who will perform works by Brahms and Beethoven.
Minister of State for the Arts Martin Mansergh said the festival provided “a wonderful opportunity for Irish audiences to enjoy a vast range of live classical music performed by excellent musicians in the matching atmosphere of many of our greatest historic houses”.
He was speaking at the launch of the programme at the headquarters of sponsor KBC Bank.
The festival will open at Castletown House, Co Kildare, with a performance by French ensemble Quatuor Ebène.
Other highlights include quartet l’Autre Ebène being joined by Richard Héry and Fabrice Planchat to perform jazz, film and pop music at the Sugar Club, Leeson Street, Dublin, on June 13th.
Tenor Robin Tritschler will be partnered with British pianist Simon Lepper for works by Brahms, Britten, Bax and Schumann at Emo Court, Co Laois, on June 17th.
Pianists Hugh Tinney and Finghin Collins will collaborate in a programme of French and Russian music for two pianos at the RDS Concert Hall on June 18th.
The festival will conclude at Castletown House on June 19th with the award-winning Quatuor Ysaye and music by Haydn, Brahms and Schumann.