Caitríona O'Leary and Dúlra perform Irish songs of joy and rapture from their Heresy-released album Ecstasy

Dúlra Love of Loves, Irish Songs of Love and Loss

St. John's Smith Square, London

Friday 14 June 2013, 7.30pm

Supported by Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Great Britain, acclaimed traditional Irish band Dúlra featuring singer Caitríona O’Leary will perform a special concert on Friday 14^th June at 7:30 PM at St. John’s Smith Square, London.  The concert is being held in celebration of Ireland’s six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union which ends on 30^th June 2013.

The concert entitled Love of Loves (Ansacht na nAnsacht) is a programme of rare traditional Irish vocal and instrumental works on the theme of Love and Loss including Suantraí (lullabies), Goltraí (Laments) and Geantraí (songs of Joy and rapture) from the 16^th through the 20^th centuries. Dúlra features some of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians including, renowned vocalist Caitríona O’Leary, fiddler, Adrian Hart, flute and whistle player Eamon Galldubh, cellist, Lioba Petrie, bodhrán player, Frank Torpey and Andrea Piccioni from Italy, a frequent collaborator of Ms. O’Leary’s who is considered the world’s greatest frame drummer.

Dúlra specializes in unearthing, reconstructing, performing and recording rare early Irish song in compelling and virtuosic interpretations. Combining influences from early music, world music and contemporary classical, Dúlra creates a new sound for traditional Irish music.

Dúlra has performed to critical acclaim in leading venues and festivals across Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland and Croatia. They have released three albums, Duíl, Irish Songs of Love & Nature (EMI Virgin Classics), I am Stretched on Your Grave (BMG, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi) and Ecstasy (Heresy Records/Naxos).

In September 2013 Dúlra will perform two concert programmes at Beethovenfest Bonn and will release a new album, SLEEPSONGS, for Heresy/Naxos.

Dúlra Love of Loves:

Caitríona O’Leary – Singer

Adrian Hart - Fiddle

Eamon Galldubh - Flute/Whistle

lioba Petrie - Cello

Frank Torpey – Bodhrán

Andrea Piccioni - Frame drums

Francesco Turrisi – Percussion