Thursday 6 August, 3.00pm
Birr Castle Music Salon
Patrick Rafter violin
Dida Condria piano
Birr Festival of Music is thrilled to be part of Birr Vintage Week & Arts Festival 2026 with two special afternoon concerts at two of the town's most-impressive venues in August.
The acclaimed virtuosic violinist Patrick Rafter returns to Birr! This time, he is joined by the brilliant young Irish/Romanian pianist Dida Condria for a special performance at the historic Music Salon at Birr Castle.
Acclaimed organist Thomas Charles Marshall will be joined by Adele O'Dwyer (cello) for another unforgettable afternoon recital at St. Brendan's Church of Ireland.
These concerts are kindly supported by
The JVM Trench Will Trust.
Friday 7 August, 1.05pm
St Brendan's Church of Ireland, Oxmantown Mall
Thomas Charles Marshall organ
Adele O'Dwyer cello
Patrick Rafter violin
Dida Condria piano
The acclaimed virtuosic violinist Patrick Rafter returns to Birr! He is joined by brilliant young Irish/Romanian pianist Dida Condria to perform a thrilling programme which includes works by Rachmaninov, Sibelius, Kreisler, Elgar, Saint Saens and more. Also featuring Vaughan-Williams spell-binding The Lark Ascending, with Birr Castle’s Music Salon providing a beautiful setting for an unforgettable experience.
Irish violinist Patrick Rafter is recognised as one of Ireland’s leading classical musicians, performing as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America. A protégé of Maxim Vengerov, he has appeared alongside Vengerov, Shlomo Mintz, Barry Douglas and John O’Conor, and worked with composers including Arvo Pärt.
Rafter has collaborated with orchestras including Prague Philharmonia, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Camerata Ireland and Kyiv Soloists, performing in major venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Seoul Arts Centre. In 2024, he signed a multi-album recording contract with Rubicon Classics.
Founder and Artistic Director of the Marble City Music Festival, he is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, London, and the International Menuhin Music Academy. A winner of over 100 national and international awards, his engagements include performances throughout Europe, South America and China.
Thursday 6 August, 3.00pm
Birr Castle Music Salon
Romanian-Irish pianist Dida Condria has performed at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Perth Concert Hall and the National Concert Hall of Ireland. A BBC Young Musician Keyboard Finalist and winner of the BBC Walter Todds Bursary, she is the 2026 RCM Beethoven Competition winner and a prize winner at numerous international competitions. Dida is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Royal College of Music with Vanessa Latarche as an RCM C.H. Scholar. A first-class graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, her performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3, RTÉ Lyric FM and RTÉ Nationwide.
Tickets €32 + booking fee
Tickets must be booked in advance.
Limited tickets available.
Thomas Charles Marshall organ
Adele O'Dwyer cello
The programme for this delightful lunchtime concert features a selection of Romantic works for organ solo and cello and organ duo, ranging from Mendelssohn to Saint-Saëns and Reynaldo Hahn.
Organist Thomas Charles Marshall serves as Director of Music at St Ann's Church, Dawson Street, Dublin, and is Artistic Director of the Tullamore International Summer Organ Series. A former organ scholar at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he is also a master of the Japanese Satsumabiwa, and recently toured Japan with Irish harpist Tríona Marshall.
PROGRAMME
Flor Peeters (1903-1986) - Aria
Saint-Saёns (1835-1921) - Priere
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) - Ciacona in F
Hermann Schroeder (1904-1984) - Salve Regina
Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901) - Pastorale
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) - Prelude no. 1 in C minor
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) - Sonata in D major
Friday 7 August, 1.05pm
St Brendan's Church of Ireland, Oxmantown Mall
Cellist Adele O'Dwyer brings a wealth of experience to this recital, having held leadership positions with the National Symphony of Ireland, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, among others. Trained in Chicago and mentored by distinguished soloists including Janos Starker and Lynn Harrell, she is also the creator of Emsona, a digital platform designed especially for primary school classroom music education, aimed at developing deep understanding and fluency in the language of music.
Tickets €15 (Children Free)
Tickets can also be purchased at the door on the day.
Please note: cash only
Proceeds in aid of the Church Restoration Fund
Kindly supported by
