Various Composers - Spin. New Music for Violin and Orchestra from Northern Ireland (Darragh Morgan)

Information

• Bill Campbell - Swim
• Brian Irvine - À mon seul désir
• Ryan Molloy - Violin Concerto
• Frank Lyons - Spin 3

Darragh Morgan, violin

Ulster Orchestra

David Brophy, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Resonus Classics

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Irish violinist Darragh Morgan presents a programme of four violin concertos written for him over the past two decades by Frank Lyons, Brian Irvine, Bill Campbell, and Ryan Molloy. A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, Morgan is joined by the Ulster Orchestra under conductor David Brophy in a recording that highlights the diversity and vitality of Northern Ireland’s modern compositional voice. The works combine electronic textures, folk-influenced rhythmic writing, lyrical introspection, and virtuosic display, each offering a distinct sonic world. Together, they form a cohesive portrait of contemporary concerto writing in which soloistic brilliance and orchestral imagination are closely integrated with expressive clarity and colour.

Darragh Morgan is an Irish violinist with a strong focus on contemporary and new music, noted for close collaborations with leading composers such as Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Michael Nyman, Michael Finnissy, and Kevin Volans. A founding member of The Fidelio Trio, he has also served as guest leader with ensembles including the London Sinfonietta, Ensemble Modern, MusikFabrik, and Les Siècles, and has performed chamber music with artists such as Bang on a Can All-Stars and Thomas Adès. His solo career includes appearances at major international venues including the Wigmore Hall and Vienna Konzerthaus, alongside an extensive discography of over fifty recordings. Morgan plays an 1848 Giuseppe Rocca violin on loan from the Morgan-Rocca Instrument Trust, reflecting his continued commitment to high-level performance and contemporary repertoire.