Dick O’Riordan’s classical notes: DiDonato shines like a beacon on NCH’s long road back to happiness

The inestimable American soprano is first among equals in the Dublin venue’s new International Concert Series calendar of events

Joyce DiDonato: performing Eden on April 9 at the NCH in Dublin. Picture: Sergi Jasanada

Has any Irish musical institution suffered more from the implications of Covid-19 than the National Concert Hall? Possibly not. So what a relief and a joy it is to see newly-appointed chief Robert Read’s International Concert Series calendar with so many wonderful performers.

They include French pianist Pierre-Laurant Aimard (performing on World Piano Day next Tuesday), English cellist Guy Johnston with the Hallé Orchestra, the British-based Chineke Orchestra with pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, the Estonian Philharmonic ...