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While pop music rocks the night away in Dublin’s clubland, classical music is a rather less obvious feature of the city’s cultural landscape; you’ll need to keep an eye on listings in the Event Guide or In Dublin to track down concerts and recitals. The city has two resident orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra, T 01 208 3347, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, T 01 208 3347, both of which perform at the National Concert Hall. Look out for the biannual seasons by Opera Ireland, T 01 208 3347, at the Gaiety Theatre and frequent recitals of Irish chamber music at the Dublin City Gallery by the Concorde Ensemble, T 091 522 867. Occasional concerts are held at Christchurch and St Patrick’s , the Irish Museum of Modern Art , the Project Arts Centre and St Stephen’s Church, Mount St Upper, T 01 288 0663. Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Foster Pl, T 01 671 488. Box office Tue-Fri 1100-1600. Free lunchtime concerts are held during the winter months, supplemented by classical music evenings and poetry readings. Dublin City Gallery ‘Hugh Lane’, Parnell Sq, T 01 874 1903. Sun 1200. Free concerts are held here in a spacious auditorium from September to June. National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terr, T 01 475 1572, http://www.nch.ie Box office Mon-Sat 1000-1900. The former Great Hall of University College Dublin (now located out of town at Belfield) is the city’s main venue for classical orchestral performances. However, what the building gains in historical and architectural interest is sadly lost in the less-than-excellent acoustics. Tickets are usually available up to three months in advance and can be booked online. Royal Dublin Showgrounds Concert Hall, Merrion Rd, Ballsbridge, T 01 668 0866. Box office Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Occasional orchestral, chamber music and opera performances take place in a big and rather bland environment.
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