It was built in the 1870s, but St Luke’s Church in Cork became the city’s newest venue Friday night when it hosted the first of its series of August gigs.

Cork-bound Alexander Balanescu was born in Romania but has lived in the UK for most of his life. He fronts the Balanescu Quartet, a group that broke through with their classically-tinged cover versions of tunes by Kraftwerk. 

Irish cellist Vyvienne Long has persuaded the renowned Balanescu Quartet to tour Ireland.