Live Music review: Ortús Chamber Music Festival, Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh

Taking its name from an amalgam of Latin and Irish words for ‘beginning’, the inaugural Ortús Chamber Music Festival concluded a weekend of events with a showcase for six of the best young Irish classical musicians at the West Gallery of the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh.

Founders and artistic directors, violinist Mairéad Hickey and cellist Sinéad O’Halloran put together a weighty schedule of three full-length programmes for various permutations of the roster of players, from duos to sextets. They were joined by violinist Siobhán Doyle, viola players Martin Moriarty and Ed Creedon, and cellist Christopher Ellis. More value was added in outreach educational events and a site-specific performance at Kent Station of a new commission by Sam Perkin.

Sunday’s afternoon event opened on a light-hearted vein with an assured performance of Beethoven’s Serenade (Op 8) for trio with Hickey and O’Halloran joined by Ed Creedon on viola. The playing was imbued with charm and exuberance. The darker tone colours of a Kodaly folk inspired ‘Intermezzo’ allowed the other three members to show off their matching flawless technique. The highlight of the afternoon was Tchaikovsky’s Sextet in D minor, when the whole ensemble delivered a luscious performance of ‘Souvenir de Florence’ marked with rhythmic precision, vigour and sheer passion.

The high level of accomplishment was expected: All are multiple prize winners who showed themselves well equipped to handle the technical challenges. What impressed most was the unanimity in their approach and the evenness of sound across the ensemble. This was all the more extraordinary as the players, scattered in various European music conservatoires, don’t play routinely together, meeting up during breaks from their study terms. No one held back and the full heft of all six made for an intense and exciting sonic experience in the elegant Italianate chamber, packed to capacity for the occasion.

With full houses for a diversity of teaching and performing events, Ortús has made a great beginning.