`Institutionalised insomnia" was the director general of RTE, Bob Collins's succinct description of FM3's new, extended, night-time service. The folks at RTE held a reception on Tuesday afternoon to outline the new satellite link-up with other members of the European Broadcasting Union which means that classical music fiends can now tune in for more than 12 hours through the night.
The idea was the baby of Kevin Healy, former head of radio - a post now filled by Helen Shaw - as well as vice-president of the EBU; he is now head of corporate affairs. Bob Collins described the service, which is called Euroclassic Notturno, as a good entity as it offers music by performing groups rather that just commercial recordings. The extended classical musical coverage is also one step nearer to the new arts channel which he hopes will be up and running next January - the job as head of the channel will be advertised soon. Many of the city's classical music buffs were there to celebrate the new service including the programme's presenters, Catherine Hogan, Gerry McArdle, Blanaid Bodley, and Donal Broughan; composer Brian Boydell; music critic Ian Fox, and professor Harry White of UCD. Jane Carty was taking time off from the countdown to the final of the Musician of the Future Festival of which she is director, which will take place on February 13th.
RTE's Laurie Carr is also madly busy organising. The National Symphony Orchestra is 50 years old this year and is celebrating their birthday on February 14th in the best way they know how - a big concert. Galina Gorchakova, the prima diva with the Kirov Opera will be flying in to perform as will Dilya Itin, current winner of the Leeds International Piano competition, and of course the birthday boys and girls themselves - the NSO.