Cork International Choral Festival

The Cork International Choral Festival is held annually in Cork, Ireland over the May Bank Holiday Weekend and features choirs from all over the world. About 5,000 choristers take part every year; they come from all over Ireland, from Britain, from the European continent, and sometimes from as far away as Africa, America, and Asia. Since its foundation in 1954, there have been about 3,500 choir entries.[1]

History

The festival was founded in 1954. It was part of An Tóstal, a national festival begun by Seán Lemass in 1952, as an attempt to set lift the country from a period of economic depression and high emigration. This initiative was supported by senior Army officers and Bórd Fáilte, the Irish Tourist Board; which played a leading role in its implementation.[2]

The first Tóstal began in Cork in 1953 with a pageant in which a large section of the business community took part; there were sporting events, Gaelic League activities, and an arts programme which included a performance of Handel's Messiah performed by the English Hallé Orchestra under Sir John Barbirolli, with Our Lady’s Choral Society of Dublin – in all 300 performers.

The following year the Choral Festival was established in its own right, and two years later the Cork Film Festival.

The Choral Festival set out to

Each year amateur international choirs are selected to compete for the Fleischmann International Trophy. The selected choirs also perform non-competitively in a range of Festival activities over the weekend, including Fringe concerts, church and informal performances. As well as foreign choirs, the Festival annually features up to 100 Adult, Youth and School choirs who participate in National Competitions. In 2011, 16 foreign ensembles came to Cork to participate in the Festival. [4]

Literature

References

  1. Ruth Fleischmann, Ed.: Cork International Choral Festival 1954-2004: A Celebration, 2004, p 9.
  2. Ruth Fleischmann, Ed.: Cork International Choral Festival 1954-2004: A Celebration, 2004, p 10.
  3. Ruth Fleischmann, Ed.: Cork International Choral Festival 1954-2004: A Celebration, 2004, pp 10-11.
  4. John Fitzpatrick: Cork International Choral Festival Programme 27 April - 1 May 2011, p 5.

External links

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