Music in 18th-century Dublin
A 5-Week Music Appreciation Series with art and music historian, Adrian Le Harivel.
Description
Join Adrian Le Harivel to explore the musical richness of Georgian Dublin, when it attracted talent from across Europe and had many important visitors, alongside key Irish figures, today being rediscovered.
While architecture and literature of the 18th century receive most attention, this was just as important and still a rich vein to explore, enhancing our enjoyment today and chance to learn more about personalities and works that have become neglected.
Session 1: Virtuosi and Divas in Georgian Dublin.
Pampered Italian castrati, soprano stars on a break from London and great solo musicians, especially Italians, were all part of the musical landscape in Dublin, their private lives as much a story as their performances.
Session 2: Handel's nine months, Messiah and More.
Handel's career was in the doldrums, when he accepted an invitation to bring his music to Dublin, where had many followers. He would spend nine months here, putting on two series of oratorios, plus the most famous premiere in his life, of Messiah, the background to these a fascinating insight into music-making.
Session 3: Venues, Programming and Audiences.
With the 1741 Music Hall, Fishamble Street, Dublin had a modern concert venue, while music was essential part of burlesques, plays, ballad operas and concerts at Smock Alley Theatre, the Rotunda, Aungier Street Theatre, Castle, a number of smaller venues linked to charities and larger spaces in private homes. We will explore those extant and gone and learn how different musical expectations were at the time.
Session 4: Music Sellers and Instrument Makers.
Music publishing and selling was another imortant part of Dublin's music scene and brought a wealth of European music to professionals and amateurs, while opportunities for composers to issue new works. Along with outstanding harpsichords and woodwind instruments, many of them extant today, the new square piano, harp guitar and fine organs were also being produced and worth study in their own right.
Session 5: Music in paintings tour of National Gallery of Ireland*. (This is a guided Tour through the NGI, included in the course fee.)
Before photography, art, used throughout the course, was an essential tool for seeing how and where music was produced, with many insights into development of instruments and techniques. The National Gallery of Ireland has significant paintings from the 18th century, while always of benefit to experience art in reality. Note that this will be on site, starting at Merrion Square entrance to NGI and there may be two consecutive tours, depending on numbers.
*Session 5 (Friday the 4th of December) will be a live, guided tour through the National Gallery of Ireland. Due to group size restrictions there will have to be two groups that day, Group 1 starting at 11:00 AM, Group 2 starting at 12:15 PM. As part of your registration, please make sure to select either Option 1 or 2, to indicate your preferred time for the Live Tour. [Adrian will meet you at the Merrion Square entrance to NGI at 10:45 AM (Group 1) / 12:00 PM (Group 2)]
Dates:
Session 1: Friday 6th of November 2026 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM (RIAM Lecture Theatre - G023)
Session 2: Friday 13th of November 2026 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM (RIAM Lecture Theatre - G023)
Session 3: Friday 20th of November 2026 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM (RIAM Lecture Theatre - G023)
Session 4: Friday 27th of November 2026 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM (RIAM Lecture Theatre - G023)
Session 5: Friday 4th of December 2026 Group 1: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM / Group 2: 12:15 - 1:15 PM (National Gallery of Ireland - Merrion Square Entrance, Meeting at 10:45 AM / 12:00 PM)
Tutors
Adrian Le Harivel spent 42 years as Curator at the National Gallery of Ireland, working across the collection and establishing the Prints and Drawings department. He has wide range of interests, including architecture, antiques, timepieces and especially music. For over twenty years he has researched and lectured on the relationship between art and music and how study of each benefits understanding of other, from composers, opera, performers and instruments to venues. He was named tutor of Visual Culture to RIAM in 2023 and continues to lecture and give walking tours of Dublin.
Prerequisites
Participants need to be min. 18 years
This course is an "in-Person" course only. Participation Online won't be possible.