On the Town: Thoughts turned to evening sunsets in June, music drifting across the valley, when details of the 2005 IIB Bank Music in Great Irish Houses Festival, which began 35 years ago, were announced at a reception in Dublin this week.
"When you are listening to the music you forget the cares of the world," explained Frank Casey, former chief executive of ICC Bank. Ann Blackwell, architect and chairwoman of the festival, was in agreement. "It's the whole ambience . . . in Killruddery in the orangery looking out at the setting sun. It's really gorgeous."
This year's nine-day festival will have a Latin flavour. The line-up includes the two young Italian pianists, Andrea Lucchesini and Enrico Pace, as well as the Spanish quartet, Cuarteto Casals with Fabio Biondi.
"We've moved further south to the Latin countries, above all Italy and Spain," explained Hugh Tinney, the festival's artistic director. "It's a very rich area and there was the possibility of including music from South America. You need a rich area to mine when you are planning a festival," he said. "It was a process of discovery for me."
Another feature this year will be the presence of tango music at the last concert, which will be given by violinist Fionnuala Hunt and the Tango Orchestra at Castletown House in Co Kildare. "It's been a big passion of mine for many years," said the violinist. "It's the culmination of a three-year-long project of research into the music's origins."
The Earl and Countess of Meath, of Killruddery House in Bray, Co Wicklow, who have been part of the festival for 25 years, were present for the launch of this year's programme. It took place at the IIB Bank headquarters, which is the rebuilt art deco Archer's Garage building on Sandwith Street in Dublin 2.
Bookings for the festival, which runs from Thur, June 9th to Sat, June 18th, will be taken from Tues, May 3rd. Tel: 01-6642822