National Concert Hall | April 6th | 12:30pm
Cór na nÓg, The Leinster String Quartet and Harpist Andreja Malir
Composed by Ciarán Kelly and Carl Corcoran. Conducted by Ciarán Kelly.
New Music Dublin Festival 2025 (NMD) proudly presents the world premiere of ‘A Child of The Universe’, a captivating three-movement choral setting composed by the innovative choral composer Ciarán Kelly in collaboration with celebrated songwriter Carl Corcoran. This extraordinary work, inspired by Max Ehrmann’s timeless 1927 poem ‘Desiderata’ will be performed on April 6th at the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
‘Desiderata’ resonates with themes of peace, acceptance, and the pursuit of happiness, making it an ideal foundation for a choral composition that seeks to uplift and inspire. Kelly and Corcoran’s collaborative eLort brings a fresh perspective to Ehrmann’s words, transforming them into a harmonious tapestry of sound that highlights the beauty of choral music.
The three movements of ‘A Child of The Universe’ will take the audience on an emotional journey, blending rich vocal harmonies with evocative melodies and exciting strings and harp. Commissioned by NMD specifically for the combined forces of Cór Linn and Cór na nÓg, along with the Leinster String Quartet and harpist Andreja Malir, this premiere promises to be a landmark event for both the performers and the audience, showcasing the profound impact of choral music in contemporary settings.
Ciarán Kelly, known for his innovative choral compositions, expressed his excitement about the project: “It has been a dream to set ‘Desiderata’ to music. The poem’s messages are timeless and universal, and I hope that our interpretation brings them to life in a way that resonates with everyone.”
Carl Corcoran added, “Working with Ciarán on this piece has been an inspiring experience. The combination of our artistic visions has created something truly special, and we can’t wait for the audience to experience it.”
Kelly and Corcoran have an impressive track record of collaborations – Ciarán arranged several songs from Carl’s catalogue for Ireland’s premier a cappella vocal ensemble Ardú
Examples of these works can be found here: https://www.ardumusic.com/
Join us for this World premiere performance on April 6th at the National Concert Hall!
Tickets are available at https://www.newmusicdublin.ie/a-child-of-the-universe