The Park Avenue Armory in New York will present the US premiere of The Second Violinist as part of its 2020 season, curated by Pierre Audi. It will be the original production, directed by Enda Walsh, conducted by Ryan McAdams, and produced by Landmark Productions and Irish National Opera. The Second Violinist will run from September 25-29 at the Armory. More details here.
Donnacha Dennehy's The Hunger—out August 23, 2019 on Nonesuch Records—explores Ireland's Great Famine. Performed by Alarm Will Sound led by Alan Pierson, soprano Katherine Manley, and sean nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird, the libretto draws from first-hand accounts by American humanitarian Asenath Nicholson. The Hunger "bears hearing and rehearing," said the Washington Post. "It is powerful, and it makes a statement." Pre-order to download the album track "Black Potatoes" now.
New Amsterdam Records released Surface Tension/Disposable Dissonance on June 28, 2019. It features performances by Third Coast Percussion (Chicago) and Crash Ensemble (Dublin). The recording makes Bandcamp’s “Best of Contemporary Classical June List”. Writing about it, Peter Margasak says “Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy explores two fascinating sound processes on these recently composed works, performed by two of contemporary music’s premiere ensembles.”
The Abbey Theatre in Dublin will present the stage version of The Hunger from 19-24 August 2019.
Theater Freiburg will present the first German production of The Last Hotel (2015) in May 2020. Enda Walsh will direct.
POSTPONED TO 2020/21 SEASON
Cantaloupe Records release the recording of The Last Hotel (2015), the first of my operas with the writer Enda Walsh, on March 15, 2019.
More information at Cantaloupe Records
Watch a video excerpt here
Dutch National Opera will present the The Second Violinist as part of their Opera Forward Festival in March 2019. The Los Angeles Philharmonic have also just announced their 2018-19 season, and it includes a new commissioned work (to be conducted by John Adams) for their Green Umbrella Season.
