RTÉ Concert Orchestra Sept/Oct 2025

RTÉ Concert Orchestra September October 2025 

Lights Camera Classics!

Saturday 6 September, 7.30pm – SETU Arena, Waterford
Music from Sleeping Beauty, Moulin Rouge, Driving Miss Daisy, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Fatal Attraction, Titanic, Jean de Florette, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2001 A Space Odyssey and more!
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Stephen Bell, conductor
Mary McCabe, soprano
Join the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and conductor Stephen Bell for an unforgettable evening of cinematic splendour, where iconic classical favourites bring the silver screen to life.
From the lyrical romance of La Traviata in Pretty Woman to the spectacle of Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld Overture in Moulin Rouge, experience timeless classical masterpieces that have shaped cinema history.
Be transported by the drama of Verdi’s Force of Destiny Overture, the elegance of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Waltz, and the soaring beauty of Strauss’ Blue Danube.
Performing pieces famously featured in legendary films from Fantasia to 2001: A Space Odyssey, don’t miss this spectacular celebration of classical music from the movies, performed live by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at SETU, Waterford.
Tickets: €15-€30 plus booking fee, here.
Presented by the Symphony Club of Waterford and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. 

Anam Éireann | The Soul of Ireland

Thursday 11 September, 7.30pm – The Helix, Dublin
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Ellie Slorach, conductor
Zoë Conway, fiddle
Ríoghnach Connolly, vocalist
Louise Mulcahy, piper
Edwina Guckian, sean nós dancer
John Mc Intyre, guitar
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Associate Artist Zoë Conway unite for an unforgettable evening of music, song and dance, following special performances together at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, in the National Concert Hall, and as part of a cine-concert, From a Forest to a Fiddle.
They’re joined by some of the country’s most celebrated traditional musicians: Conway’s masterful fiddle playing is paired with partner John Mc Intyre on guitar; ‘simply one of the best folk duos on the planet’ (BBC).
Ríoghnach Connolly’s (The Breath, Honeyfeet, Lí Ban) powerful voice joins the orchestra and trad duo for pieces including the beautiful Faoiseamh a gheobhadsa. Connolly was awarded Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2019 and Best Folk Singer at the RTÉ Folk Awards 2025.
Louise Mulcahy joins on the uilleann pipes for Zoë and John’s compositions Suaimhneas and Bearna Mheabh; for Knockaulin and The March of The Clans, two pieces composed by Liam O’Flynn, and for St Brigit’s Jig, composed by Louise herself.
With a background steeped in the tradition of music and dance, hailing from Leitrim, esteemed sean-nós dancer Edwina Guckian joins for a number of trad sets, in this authentic session that bridges generations of cultural expression.
Tickets: €15–€42.50 plus booking fee, here.
Presented by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

Drogheda Classical Music

Friday 12 September, 7.30pm – St Peter’s Church of Ireland, Drogheda, Co Louth
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Mia Cooper, director/violin
As part of Drogheda Classical Music’s thirteenth season of concerts, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra is directed by its leader Mia Cooper for a programme of Haydn, Vivaldi, Rossini and Schubert.
The evening opens with Haydn’s Symphony No. 6 Le matin and closes with  a Rossini String Sonata and Schubert’s 5th Symphony. At the centre of the concert, two Vivaldi concertos, each with RTÉ CO players as soloists: the Piccolo Concerto with Emma Roche and the Concerto for Two Trumpets with Shaun Hooke and Eamonn Nolan.
Programme
Haydn, Symphony No. 6 in D, Hob. I:6 ‘Le Matin’ 
Vivaldi, Concerto for Piccolo, Strings and Cembalo
Vivaldi, Concerto for Two Trumpets in D
Rossini, String Sonata No 1 in G
Schubert, Symphony No 5
Tickets on sale soon. 
Presented by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Drogheda Classical Music.

Dublin City Council and NEIC present Culture Night with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Patrick Dexter

Friday 19 September, 6pm – Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Sean McDermott Street
Free, no booking required.

SOLD OUT | The RTÉ Concert Orchestra presents RTÉ lyric fm Marty in the Evening

Saturday 20 September, 8pm – Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin 
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Stephen Bell, conductor
Presented by Marty Whelan, RTÉ lyric fm
Angeline Ball, Ava Dodd and Tim Howar, vocalists
Fans of Marty Whelan’s much-loved programme on RTÉ lyric fm will know it has an eclectic playlist encompassing classical, opera, popular, film, musicals, jazz and more. After a series of sold-out collaborations with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, including one in Limerick in June, they are once again teaming up for this night at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
Join the RTÉ lyric fm presenter for entertaining anecdotes and chat plus the finest music from his popular morning radio show with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, conductor Stephen Bell and guest vocalists Angeline Ball, Ava Dodd and Tim Howar. Expect everything from Van Morrison to Etta James, Morricone to Mícheál Ó Suilleabháin, Puccini arias, family favourites and more.
Tickets: €36.50–€60 plus booking fees, here.
Presented by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and RTÉ lyric fm 

Strauss 200

Wednesday 24 September, 8pm – National Concert Hall, Dublin 
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Stephen Bell, conductor
Rebecca Bottone, soprano
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra, under the baton of Stephen Bell, present a Viennese programme spanning three generations of musical genius, to celebrate Johann Strauss’ 200th Birthday.
From the elder Strauss’s stirring marches through the golden age of operetta with Johann Strauss II and Franz Lehár, to the artistry of Erich Wolfgang Korngold (whose career spanned child prodigy composer to founder of Hollywood film music), this programme captures the essence of Viennese glamour, including the effervescent Fledermaus Overture and the charming Thunder and Lightning and Cuckoo Polkas.
International opera singer, soprano Rebecca Bottone, joins the orchestra to sing the Spharenklänge Waltz by Josef Strauss, showcasing the remarkable legacy of the Strauss family, as well as Franz Lehár’s Vilja (Die Lustige Witwe/The Merry Widow) and Meine Lippen (Giuditta). Bottone sings stunning arias from Strauss – Audition Song (Die Fledermaus) – and from Korngold – Marietta’s Lied (Die tote Stadt/The Dead City), alongside Strauss’ lilting waltz, Voices of Spring.
Lehár’s contributions to the silver operetta era shine in The Land of Smiles Overture, while Korngold’s final orchestral work, Straussiana, marks a reminiscence of his youth in Vienna, and contains lesser-known melodies from Strauss operettas Fürstin Ninetta and Cagliostro in Wien, and three-act comic opera Ritter Pázmán, in homage to the Waltz King. 
Join us for a classical celebration of Viennese finesse, with works by the Strauss family and their contemporaries.Tickets: €15–€42.50 with no booking fees, here.
Presented by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

The Art of Swing

Thursday 2 October, 8pm – National Concert Hall, Dublin
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Callum Au, conductor
Claire Martin, vocalist
The internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning jazz singer Claire Martin joins the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, led by Callum Au, to celebrate the art of swing.
Singing Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Porter, Bennett and more, Martin is hailed as ‘one of the finest jazz singers in the world today’ (Jazz Journal).
This programme includes Don’t Rain on My Parade, The Folks Who Live on the Hill, The Lady is a Tramp and Pure Imagination, as well as orchestral renditions of Gershwin with Prelude No. 2 and How Long Has This Been Going On?, making this an evening that showcases jazz artistry and the greatest songs from the American songbook.
Experience the sophistication of swing with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, conductor Callum Au and ‘our finest jazz singer’ (The Times).
Tickets: €15–€42.50 with no booking fees, here.
Presented by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. 

SOLD OUT | Neil Young at 80

Thursday 16 October, 8pm – National Concert Hall, Dublin
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Harvest: A Tribute to Neil Young
The Hearts of Gold
Gavin Murphy, conductor 
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra and special guests celebrate Neil Young’s 80th birthday with a stunning musical tribute, performing iconic songs that span Young’s long career – from early classics Heart of Gold and Only Love Can Break Your Heart to later masterpieces such as Harvest Moon and Unknown Legend.
The orchestra are joined by Harvest: A Tribute to Neil Young and 30-piece choir, the Hearts of Gold, in a celebration of over five decades of music that has defined generations of folk and rock, and continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
Neil Young’s mastery is explored through a programme including renditions of Old Man, Helpless, Rockin’ In The Free World and even a faithful reproduction of There’s A World, originally recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra for the legendary album, Harvest.
Take a journey through the past and celebrate the timeless music of a legendary songwriter, brought to you by Ireland’s premier Neil Young tribute band Harvest, the Hearts of Gold choir and RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Tickets: €15–€42.50 with no booking fees, here.
Presented by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. 

Requiem for the Living

19 October, 4pm – Adam and Eve’s Church, Dublin
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Proinnsías Ó Duinn, conductor
Our Lady’s Choral Society
Sharon Carty soprano
Ciarán Duffy tenor
Programme
Mendelssohn Psalm 13
Gounod O Divine Redeemer
Elgar Softly and Gently (The Dream of Gerontius)
Dan Forrest Requiem for the Living 
Tickets: €25–€37, on sale soon.
Presented by Our Lady’s Choral Society. 

Classical Greats  – Grieg and Schubert

Thursday 23 October, 8pm – National Concert Hall, Dublin
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Gavin Maloney, conductor
Finghin Collins, piano
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra under the baton of Gavin Maloney perform the music of Beethoven, Grieg and Schubert, concluding with The Great.
The evening opens with Beethoven’s spirited Creatures of Prometheus Overture, imbued with energy and dramatic flair. Grieg’s beloved Piano Concerto in A Minor follows, a Norwegian masterpiece that weaves together virtuosic piano passages with orchestral colours; one of the most cherished works in the piano repertoire.
The programme concludes with Schubert’s magnificent Symphony No. 9 in C Major, ‘The Great’ – a work that represents the pinnacle of Classical symphonic composition. Marking Schubert’s final symphony, its triumphant finale creates a sense of monumental musical architecture, with thematic development that echoes Beethoven, while emphasising melodic beauty.
Tickets: €15–€42.50 with no booking fees, here.
Presented by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. 

RTÉ Concert Orchestra Opera Gala with Claudia Boyle

Tuesday 28 October, 7.30pm – National Opera House, Wexford
Thursday 30 October, 8pm, National Concert Hall
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Claudia Boyle, soprano
Axelle Saint-Cirel, mezzo-soprano
Eduardo Niave, tenor
Giorgi Lomiseli, baritone
Francesco Cilluffo, conductor
Join us for an evening of emotional operatic highs and lows with some of opera’s most ravishing arias. Conducted by Wexford Festival Opera’s guest conductor Francesco Cilluffo, who brings ‘An instinctive feeling for Italianate lyricism’ (New York Times), and featuring four of opera’s extraordinary singers including the phenomenal soprano Claudia Boyle.
Boyle, mezzo-soprano Axelle Saint-Cirel, tenor Eduardo Niave and baritone Giorgi Lomiseli join the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, which has a vibrant, eclectic repertoire, with a programme that pays homage to this year’s Wexford Festival Opera theme of myths and legends. 
Tickets:
Wexford: €20–€50 plus booking fees, here.
Dublin: €15–€42.50 with no booking fees, here.
Presented by Wexford Festival Opera and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.