Christmas concert at Castletown

Join Soprano Helen Hancock and acclaimed pianist Olga Soloviova for an evening of exquisite selection of songs and arias. Embrace the true spirit of Christmas with a sublime evening of music. Join renowned soprano Helen Hancock and acclaimed pianist Olga Soloviova for an exquisite selection of songs and arias. With an interval of Mulled wine & mince pies . The evening promises a journey through the romance of Schubert, Schumann, and Debussy to the soaring operatic drama of Dvořák’s famous Song to the Moon and Puccini’s beloved O Mio Babbino Caro. Timeless sacred masterpieces, including Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze and Schubert’s Ave Maria will set the scene. Expect festive favourites from Hollywood’s Golden Age and a smattering of traditional Christmas carols, including Silent Night and O Holy Night. Renowned for her engaging and relatable storytelling, Helen invites you to lift your voices and join in on a few favourite carols. Treat yourself to a magical night of music, warmth, and festive cheer. Our artists for the evening are both based in Galway: soprano Helen Hancock hails from Dublin originally and pianist Olga Soloviova from Ukraine. Helen and Olga discovered they had an instant and very special musical rapport in their first concert in St Nicholas Collegiate Church in Galway this year. Olga values ​​her connections with like-minded Irish fellow musicians—such as Helen Hancock—who share her vision and spirit. "Despite the pain and tragedy that have befallen Ukraine, I am happy to have found kindred spirits for whom music is not merely a profession; for them, as for me, music is a way of life!" Biography Helen Hancock Irish soprano Helen Hancock has performed in recital, baroque and chamber music concerts in venues and festivals all over Ireland and internationally. Helen’s engagements this year included a recital at Boyle Arts Festival with pianist Daren Lane. With Ramin Haghjoo she performed at Galway Museum for Culture Night, funded as part of the Culture Programme for Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, Galway City Arts Office and The Arts Council. Opera engagements in 2025 include an Opera salon evening at Claregalway Castle and singing the role of Molly in Lady Gregory in America, an opera by Alberto Caruso/Colm Toibín at the annual Gregory - Yeats Autumn Gathering in Gort, Co. Galway, produced/directed by Lelia Doolan in association with The Abbey Theatre. With her string quartet, The Triskel Ensemble, Helen has performed many salon style concerts nationwide which combine lighthearted, popular classics with opera arias. Helen’s debut album TOGETHERNESS of lieder and Irish art song including first recordings of music by Irish composers Criostóir Ó Loingsigh and Anne-Marie O’Farrell with German pianist Paul Cibis was released on Navona Records in 2025. This was recorded after a recital in Germany in 2024 as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24, an initiative of Culture Ireland and The Embassy of Ireland, Germany. Helen and Paul toured the album in Ireland in 2025 and in 2026. A highly experienced music educator, Helen’s vocal workshops for aging voices have been extremely received by Athlone Choral Society, Athlone a Capella, Le Chéile, Tullamore, Galway Sings and Cantóirí, Dublin. She also gives arts residencies in primary schools through the Galway County Arts Office and the BLAST scheme and has a small private studio of singing students in Galway. Biography Olga Soloviova Olga Soloviova is a Ukrainian pianist educated at the Sergei Prokofiev Donetsk Music Academy, specializing in chamber ensemble performance, teaching, and collaborative piano. She has performed on major stages across Ukraine, including the philharmonic halls of Donetsk and Kyiv, as well as in Zaporizhzhia, Uzhhorod, and Dnipropetrovsk. Olga has participated in international competitions as a collaborative pianist, repeatedly winning the "Best Accompanist" award. She has also taken part in music festivals such as "Classics on the Street" in Bad Ragaz (Switzerland) and served on the jury of a piano competition in Nantes (France). Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Olga relocated to Ireland; since May 2022, Olga has lived in Galway, where she is actively involved in the local classical music community. Additionally, she founded a choir of Ukrainian performers that has successfully integrated into Galway’s choral scene. Programme for the Concert: Johann Sebastian Bach Sheep may safely graze George Friderich Handel V’adoro Pupille from Guilio Cesare in Egitto Lascia ch’io pianga from Rinaldo Franz Schubert Ständchen (Serenade) An die Musik Die Forelle (The Trout) Franz Lehár Vilia from The Merry Widow Antonín Leopold Dvořák Song to the Moon from Rusalka Giacomo Puccini O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi Robert Schumann Widmung Franz Schubert Ave Maria Max Reger The Virgin’s Slumber Song (Wiegenlied) Traditional Away in a Manger (Audience to join in) Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas Interval Claude Debussy Nuits d’Étoiles Reynaldo Hahn À Chloris Tormé/Wells Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting..) Franz Xaver Gruber Silent Night Adolphe Adam O Holy Night Irving Berlin White Christmas (Audience to join in) LINKS https://youtu.be/nZWo56guMZ8?si=3b5vZR8ci9sbSFOe Video documentary of Helen’s album recording session at Traumton Studios in Berlin in June 2024 which released in September 2025 on Parma Recordings Navona Records Label Website www.helenhancocksoprano.com https://youtu.be/JArZ4Yze0NI?si=BEAvwAWB43pYXths Olga plays Piazzola. For more information Contact: [email protected]