Years active 1948 – Present Record label Naxos Records | Labels Naxos Records | |
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Occupation(s) Orchestra, choir, string quartet Website http://www.rte.ie/performinggroups Our Previous Performances and Repertoire ContentsMembers RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
RTÉ Philharmonic Choir
RTÉ Cór na nÓg
RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet Origin Dublin, Republic of Ireland Genres Classical music, Symphony, Jazz, Opera, Contemporary classical music Similar RTÉ Cór na nÓg, RTÉ Philharmonic Choir, RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, Albert Rosen, Mark Duley | ||
RTÉ Performing Groups is a group of five classical ensembles, part of the Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). All but the Vanbrugh Quartet are based in Dublin (Vanbrugh are based in Cork).
The RTÉ Performing Groups are made up of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and the children's choir RTÉ Cór na nÓg. The five groups present over 250 events annually, including live performances and work in education. The groups are largely funded by licence fee revenue.
In 2008, both orchestras celebrated 60 years in existence. Between the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, a total of 134 professional musicians are employed. The RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and the children's choir RTÉ Cór na nÓg are for singers at an amateur level. Presently, approximately 200 adults and children are incorporated in the choirs.
The five groups present up to 250 events every year, most of these being live concerts. Most of these performances take place in Dublin, mostly in the National Concert Hall but some in The Helix and the National Gallery of Ireland. There is a variety of high-end classical music with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet to RTÉ Concert Orchestra concerts in the fields of jazz and big band, classical crossover, rock music, Irish traditional music, cabaret, multimedia events, family concerts and more.
High-profile Irish and international artists who have recently appeared with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra include Han-Na Chang, Louis Lortie and Ann Murray, while acclaimed guests in the orchestra's history included Sir John Barbirolli, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Joan Sutherland and Mstislav Rostropovich. RTÉ Concert Orchestra guests have included Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Kiri Te Kanawa, and more recently Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, Duke Special, Ute Lemper and Katherine Jenkins.
In 2007, all groups featured on a stamp. One million stamps were printed.
The five groups play approximately two concerts a week, a number which can increase at certain times of year.
Budget
References
The following figures were issued by RTÉ as part of their annual report 2012
Income
Total Costs
Profit and Loss
Breakdown of Irish Productions
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is the concert music orchestra of Radio Telefís Éireann. It has been considered one of Europe's major symphony orchestras. It is the primary symphony orchestra of Dublin and, is the leading orchestra of the Ireland. Alan Buribayev is the Principal Conductor Designate.
RTÉ Concert Orchestra
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra is the other of the two full-time professional orchestras in Ireland that are part of RTÉ. Since its formation as the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra in 1948, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, has grown from a small studio-based recording group to become an active 45-strong orchestra performing over eighty concerts annually. John Wilson is the Principal Conductor, appointed in January 2014 and succeeding David Brophy in this position.
RTÉ Philharmonic Choir
The RTÉ Philharmonic Choir is RTÉ's main choir. The Choir has been at the centre of choral music in Ireland since its foundation by Colin Mawby in 1985 following the introduction of new choral policy. This 140 strong choir is the country's premier symphonic choral ensemble and has performed more than 52 of the major choral works since its foundation, mostly in conjunction with the RTÉ orchestras. Its conductor is Mark Hindley.
RTÉ Cór na nÓg
The RTÉ Cór na nÓg was founded in 1987 and consists of 65 specially-selected children between the ages of 9 and 14 directed by conductor Máire Mannion. Regular performances are made in Dublin (such as the National Concert Hall) and in other counties.
RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet
RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet (Gregory Ellis, Keith Pascoe - violins; Simon Aspell - viola; Christopher Marwood - cello) is the resident string quartet to RTÉ, and are Artists in residence to University College Cork and founders of the internationally acclaimed West Cork Chamber Music Festival. The RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet shot to fame winning the 1988 London International String Quartet Competition and is one of Europe's most successful quartets, internationally recognised for its beauty of sound, clarity of texture and integrity of interpretation within an unusually wide and varied range of repertoire.