"McDonagh plays with flawless technique, faultless intonation, and a strong yet meltingly sweet tone."
Fanfare Magazine
Fanfare Magazine
Irish cellist Ailbhe McDonagh is an internationally recognised soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist. Her most recent album, Bach: Complete Solo Cello Suites, was released in 2024 on the Steinway & Sons label.
A published composer with Boosey & Hawkes, Ailbhe has an extensive catalogue of chamber, orchestral, and educational works to her name.
She is a professor of cello at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
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Bach: Complete Solo Cello Suites
In 2024, Ailbhe released her album "Bach: Complete Solo Cello Suites" on the Steinway & Sons label, New York. Recorded in TU Dublin's concert hall in 2022, this recording of the entire suites is the first by an Irish cellist. "McDonagh’s recording is clearly that of a performer at once highly skilled from a technical standpoint and highly thoughtful from an expressive one. Her rendition of the suites is quite convincing on its own terms – and certainly compares favorably with the many other first-rate recordings of these unsurpassed works." Mark Estren, Infodad To accompany the release of this album, Ailbhe also recorded all six Bach Cello Suites for video. You can watch all of these videos here on her official YouTube channel. |
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The Irish Four Seasons
The world premiere of Ailbhe's highly anticipated violin concerto, "The Irish Four Seasons," was a resounding success at the Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival on August 7, 2024. The piece was brought to life by violinist Lynda O'Connor, alongside the newly formed Irish ensemble Anamus, under the baton of conductor David Brophy. A recording of this composition, performed by Lynda O'Connor, was released on August 2, 2024. "McDonagh’s The Irish Four Seasons is an idiomatic and compelling synthesis of traditional Irish music, blending captivating melodies with classical form. The four movements follow the pattern of Vivaldi’s Seasons, weaving enchanting lines ... listeners are treated to a beautiful gift for melody." BBC Music Magazine |
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Recent recordings
Bach: Complete Solo Cello Suites (2024)
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Irish Isles Suite (2023)
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Beethoven Complete Cello Sonatas (2021)
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Recent compositions
The Irish Four Seasons
Violin concerto with chamber orchestra - 22' - 2024
Listen | Watch | Sheet music
String Quartet No. 2 "Lore Quartet"
String quartet - 12' - 2023
Listen | Sheet music
Irish Isles Suite
Symphony orchestra - 13' - 2023
Listen | Full score and parts
Violin concerto with chamber orchestra - 22' - 2024
Listen | Watch | Sheet music
String Quartet No. 2 "Lore Quartet"
String quartet - 12' - 2023
Listen | Sheet music
Irish Isles Suite
Symphony orchestra - 13' - 2023
Listen | Full score and parts
How to pronounce Ailbhe
Ailbhe is pronounced AL-vah. In Irish, the letters bh are pronounced like a v.
😀
Ailbhe is pronounced AL-vah. In Irish, the letters bh are pronounced like a v.
😀