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RADIO TELEFÍS ÉIREANN
Operational Review
RTÉ Performing Groups
Programming
In 2008, the RTÉ Performing Groups (PGs)
presented 231 live concerts and events to
170,000 people aged from 5+ years. For
the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (RTÉ
NSO) highlights included the orchestra’s
60 th anniversary concert which included the
premiere of John Kinsella’s Cuchalainn and
Ferdia – Duel at the Ford; a full-length free
concert offered as part of Culture Night; the
RTÉ Television Symphony Sessions series
with Barry Douglas; the introduction of
coffee concerts at the NCH; a John Barry
spectacular (with RTÉ lyric fm) at the NCH
and two outstanding choral concerts with the
RTÉ Philharmonic Choir – the Requiem of
Berlioz and Haydn’s Creation both conducted
by Gerhard Markson. The RTÉ NSO’s
second residency in Donegal attracted 4,000
people to concerts and workshops and
culminated with a memorable shared concert
between the orchestra and the Donegal
Youth Orchestra.
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra (RTÉ CO) also
celebrated its 60 th anniversary in 2008. It
instigated the successful Signature Series
at the NCH with star performers of the
calibre of Katherine Jenkins, Lesley Garrett
and Haley Westenra. The RTÉ CO, with
Principal Conductor David Brophy, covered
an impressive range of repertoire and John
Wilson deepened his relationship with the
musicians through some memorable concerts
including Gotta Dance and The Gershwins in
Hollywood. The RTÉ CO embraced music of
huge diversity ranging from Balfe’s Falstaff
(concert performance and commercial
release with Opera Ireland and RTÉ lyric
fm), Duke Special, Curtis Stigers, Andrew
Lloyd Webber and Cleo Lane and Johnny
Dankworth. Gareth Hudson stepped down as
the RTÉ CO’s Associate Conductor and John
Wilson became the orchestra’s first Principal
Guest Conductor during the year.
The RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet toured to several
new venues, including Russborough House,
Moate, Strule (Omagh) and the Pavilion
Theatre, Dun Laoghaire; RTÉ Cór na nÓg
were busy in concert and across various RTÉ
broadcast platforms. The RTÉ Living Music
Festival (LMF) featured Estonian composer
Arvo Part and attracted capacity houses for all
six concerts in Dublin; in addition acclaimed
animateur Paul Rissmann inspired students
from the DIT and the RIAM to compose and
perform a 15-minute work as a welcome to
Arvo Part at the opening of the 2008 LMF.
RTÉ PGs presented nine world premieres
by Irish composers Roger Doyle, Ronan
Guilfoyle, David Fennessy, Jane O’Leary,
Jerome de Bromhead, John Kinsella,
Stephen Gardner and John McLachlin.
Operational
A series of noise management initiatives
were introduced in both RTÉ orchestras and
a
project to consolidate and manage the
valuable
RTÉ CO music manuscript library
was
successfully rolled-out. Further important
audience research in the area of pricing
structures was undertaken and completed.
Commercial Revenue
Growth was achieved in both attendances
and RTÉ own promotion ticket sales in
2008.
Commercial
revenue was 3% ahead of
budget
and 15% ahead of the 2007 revenue
figure. BT sponsorship of the RTÉ CO’s
Signature Series and Family Concerts was a
welcome development and IMRO and Anglo
Irish
Bank continued their sponsorship of
the RTÉ Living Music Festival and RTÉ NSO
Subscription Season respectively.
Competitive
Challenges
Commercial business challenges are
considerable across all revenue streams
with pressure likely on box office and
sponsorship streams in 2009. RTÉ PGs
face an increasingly competitive market and
appointments need to be made to key artistic
and management positions in the RTÉ NSO.
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra Principal
Flautist Catriona Ryan at the orchestra’s 2008
residency in Donegal.
Katherine Jenkins with the RTÉ Concert
Orchestra in association with BT Ireland,
November 2008. Credit Ian Oliver.
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