CHRIST CHURCH FESTIVAL
31 MAY - 3 JUNE 2007

The second Christ Church Cathedral Festival begins this week and once again sees the cathedral's Music department teaming up with the Friends of Christ Church in promoting the numerous events.

Running between Thursday 31 May and Sunday 3 June, highlights will include two lunchtime concerts, given by promising young musicians from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Dublin's acclaimed Mornington Singers. On Friday 1 June at 8.00pm, an evening concert will be given by the cathedral choir, which will present a programme entitled Illuminare - music and poetry reflecting the light of the Spirit. At 9.00pm on Saturday 2 June Christ Church is delighted to welcome international concert organist, David Briggs who will improvise a live soundtrack to the classic 1925 film, The Phantom of the Opera, which will be projected on a huge screen in the cathedral's nave. This concert is given in association with Temple Bar Cultural Trust's Diversions festival and free tickets are available from the Temple Bar Information Centre on 677 2255 / info@templebar.ie.

In addition to the regular services at the cathedral, Evensong will be sung in Irish on Saturday 2 June at 1700. This service will feature the world premiere of a new anthem by Seoirse Bodley, which has been commissioned by Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise. On Sunday 3 June, David Briggs will accompany the Irish premiere of his Messe pour Notre Dame at the 1100 Eucharist, whilst at Evensong at 1530, the winning entry in the 2007 Christ Church Cathedral Composition Competition will be given its world premiere by the cathedral choir.

A major feature of this year's festival is an exhibition on the theme of Light in the cathedral's crypt. The artist is Ceara Conway and the exhibition has been arranged by the Friends of Christ Church with advice from Aonghus Dwane. Other events include a guided tour of the cathedral, to be given by Dr Kenneth Milne, Church of Ireland Historiographer, a morning coffee concert and the cathedral choir in open rehearsal.

For more details, a festival brochure or to obtain tickets for concerts, please contact the music department on 01 677 8099 / music@cccdub.ie or see the cathedral website www.cccdub.ie.

- ENDS –