Sean Rafferty brings this week's series of Lunchtime Concerts recorded at the Great Music in Irish Houses Festival to a close with visits to Dublin City Gallery, Ireland's National Botanic Gardens, and Waterways Ireland Visitor Centre which is situated on the waters of the Grand Canal Basin in Dublin. Michael Collins and Michael McHale begin with Arnold Bax's Clarinet Sonata of 1934. Bax dedicated it to Hugh Prew, an amateur clarinettist who was a fellow-cricketer in his brother Clifford Bax's 'Old Broughtonians' cricket team. Cuarteto Casals play Ligeti's First Quartet, subtitled Métamorphoses nocturnes, which is indebted to Bartók for its folk-infused passages. Bartók composed his striking Contrasts for violin, clarinet and piano, for the eminent Hungarian violinist Joseph Szigeti, famed clarinettist Benny Goodman and himself - Bartók was a fine pianist. All three performers must have enjoyed the convergence of musical styles - jazz and classical - and the variety moods and tempos. Today's Lunchtime Concert closes with a performance by Michael Collins (clarinet), Giovanni Guzzo (violin) and Michael McHale (piano).

Bax: Sonata for Clarinet in D major
Michael Collins (clarinet) Michael McHale, piano

Ligeti: String Quartet, (Metamorphoses nocturnes)
Cuarteto Casals

Bartók: Contrasts
Michael Collins (clarinet) Giovanni Guzzo (violin) Michael McHale (piano)

First broadcast 27/06/2014. Show less