The experience of the Polish diaspora in Ireland is the focus of a new song cycle called Kraina – a romantic term for ‘region’ or ‘land’ in Polish – that draws on the poetry and prose of classic and contemporary Polish poets. Composed by our artist-in-residence Anselm McDonnell, an Irish-Welsh musician and composer, these tunes, which are by turns joyful, moving, delicate or elevating, are performed tonight by two brilliant young Northern Irish artists.

Winner of the Arts Council NI Young Musicians Platform Award in 2022, soprano Rebecca Murphy joined the opera companies of Belfast and Cologne and has performed extensively on the opera stage in recent years. She is accompanied by pianist Cahal Masterson. A graduate of RIAM Dublin, Masterson regularly gives recitals as a soloist and chamber musician in Ireland and abroad. The two combine their talents to recount these stories steeped in humanity, as well as pieces by Fauré, Berlioz, Head and Szymanowski.