Royal Irish Academy of Music at the Gallery

The Gallery is delighted to collaborate with students, staff and alumni of the Royal Irish Academy of Music to produce a programme inspired by our exhibition Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker. 

The Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) is Ireland’s oldest conservatoire, ranked in the top 50 institutions in the world for the performing arts. Training gifted musicians from all over the world for careers in music performance, composition and pedagogy, RIAM students and graduates are innovative, reflective, and highly skilled. Teaching staff at the Academy includes international prize-winners, principals of professional orchestras and individuals synonymous with music education in Ireland. RIAM performing groups are celebrated for the vitality and passion of their performances.

The Gallery is delighted to collaborate with students, staff and alumni of the RIAM to produce a programme inspired by the exhibition. From historical instruments and arrangements, to entirely bespoke compositions, this programme presents music from exceptional female composers that will take the audience far beyond the visual.

Pop-up Performances

Taking place in the exhibition space against the spectacular backdrop of portraits by the trailblazing artist Lavinia Fontana, or in the main galleries surrounded by key masterpieces from the national collection, these inclusive, accessible performances are designed to engage visitors of all ages and abilities and provide a truly unique experience.

Wednesday 10 May | 11am 
Location: Exhibition Room 9 in front of Lavinia Fontana’s Venus and Cupid and Room 10 in front of The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon.
Free to exhibition ticket holders for timed ticket slot. Book your ticket here. 

Lauren McCann (soprano), Megan O’Neill (soprano), Anna-Helena Maclachlan (mezzo-soprano) and David Adams (harpsichord) will perform Barbara Strozzi’s (1619-1677) Le tre Gratie a Venere to the backdrop of Venus and Cupid. Followed by Lauren McCann (soprano), Megan O’Neill (soprano) and Anna-Helena Maclachlan (mezzo-soprano) performing Laoise McMullin’s (b.2000) new work, a composition in direct response to The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon.

Tuesday 16 May | 1.15pm
Room 26 in front of Elisabetta Sirani’s Virgin and Child 
Free. Drop-in. No booking required.
Lauren McCann (soprano) and David Adams (harpsichord) performing Francesca Caccini’s (1587-1640) Maria, dolce Maria, followed by Michael Noonan (flute), Kevin Meehan (violin), Peadar Ó Loingsigh (cello) and Laoise McMullin (harpsichord) performing Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre’s Trio Sonate in D. 

Thursday 25 May | 7pm
Location: Exhibition Room 9 in front of Lavinia Fontana’s Judith with the Head of Holofernes. 
Free to exhibition ticket holders for timed ticket slot. Book your ticket here. 
Róisín O’Grady (soprano), Kevin Meehan (violin), Peadar Ó Loingsigh (cello) & David Adams (harpsichord) will perform Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre’s (1665-1729) Judith – Cantata. 

Saturday 10 June | 12.15pm
Location: Room 30 in front of Andrea Mantegna’s Judith with the Head of Holofernes.
Free. Drop-in. No booking required.
Róisín O’Grady (soprano) and David Adams (harpsichord) performing Barbara Strozzi’s (1619-1677)  Lamento: Lagrime mie.
 

Note: Exhibition Rooms 9 and 10 are on level 1 and fully accessible via lift from the Millennium Wing, Clare Street Entrance. Rooms 26 and 30 are on level 3 and fully accessible via lift from the Millennium Wing Entrance on Clare Street. All pop-up performances are fully accessible via lift. They are acoustic and relaxed in nature supporting fluid attendance and we welcome all visitors to experience these very special moments. The Education Team are on hand to support if needed. 

Evening Concert

In response to Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker the Royal Irish Academy of Music presents a magnificent concert of works by exceptional women composers on Thursday 15 June in our Shaw Room. Curated by Kathleen Tynan and David Adams, the programme features works by Francesca Caccini (1587-1640), Barbara Strozzi (1619-1677) and Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729) and a new work by RIAM composer Laoise McMullin (b.2000).

Performers: Róisín O’Grady, Soprano; Lauren McCann, Soprano; Megan O’Neill, Soprano; Anna-Helena Maclachlan, Mezzo-soprano; Michael Noonan, Flute; Kevin Meehan, Violin; Peadar Ó Loingsigh, Cello; Laoise McMullin, Harpsichord; David Adams, Harpsichord. 

Tickets for this very special performance cost €25, with discounts available for students/over 65s and Friends of the Gallery. Tickets are now on sale here.

Additional information about the programme and the performers is available to download here. 

Note: The Shaw Room is fully accessible and located at ground level via the Merrion Square Entrance. Toilets, accessible toilets, baby changing, and a Changing Places facility are available one floor down via lift directly adjacent to the Shaw Room. This event will be acoustic, naturally lit, and fully seated. The Education Team are on hand should you require any support. 

This collaboration with RIAM is part of a programme of events complementing the exhibition Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker, which is on view 6 May – 27 August 2023.

Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker is proudly supported by Bank of America, Exhibition Partner.

The Gallery would like to thank the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media for their ongoing support.