On Friday, 18th September, to mark Culture Night, Fermoy Classical Music Society will present a concert and illustrated talk on the life and music of the internationally famous Irish tenor, John McCormack.
This will feature a PowerPoint presentation of photos and other memorabilia, and will deal with many fascinating aspects of the life and career of the great tenor. The event will take place at Christ Church, Fermoy, starting at 7.00pm. Admission is free.
The well-known tenor, Orison Carlile, will perform a number of songs and arias associated with McCormack. Carlile will be accompanied by Aidan Duggan, distinguished pianist, composer, teacher and artist. They will perform a number of McCormack’s best-loved songs and arias including: Then You’ll Remember Me, Una Furtiva Lagrima, Panis Angelicus, I’ll Walk Beside You, Macushla, I Hear You Calling Me and others.
Aidan Duggan will perform John Field’s Nocturne No. 5 in B-Flat Major and his pupil, Alexi Bilozar, will play Étude, Op. 2, No. 12 by Scriabin.
John McCormack was born in Athlone in 1884. When he was only 19 years of age, he was awarded first prize in the Tenor Solo competition in the Dublin Feis Cheoil in 1903. He studied in Italy and subsequently had a stellar international career and was regarded as one of the finest tenors of his time, singing in Covent Garden, as well as performing in New York, Boston and Chicago and at other major venues. McCormack was much honoured and decorated for his musical career. In 1928, he received the title of Papal Count from Pope Pius XI having earlier received three papal knighthoods. McCormack died at his home in Booterstown on 16th September, 1945.
