Tuesday night's Music Network reception at the ESB office in Fitzwilliam Street was of interest to any lover of music for a number of reasons. First was the bumper programme laid out by Music Network for the coming spring - 153 concerts in 153 venues nationwide. There was news of a "Best of Irish" tour with singer John Spillane, flautist Niall Keegan, percussionist Mel Mercier and Niall Valleley on concertina, and a tour intriguingly called "The Rhythms of Bahia" that will feature percussionists Nigel Flegg and Kieran Phillips. Music Network has also teamed up with Michael Postl of the Austrian embassy to bring the renowned Joseph Haydn Trio of Eisenstadt to Ireland for the first time, and is pairing up violinist Catherine Leonard and soprano Franzita Whelan for a concert tour, too.
The other interesting part of Tuesday evening's party was that for many, it provided an introduction to the new chief-executive of Music Network, John O'Kane. And the ESB's Barney Whelan was the first to compliment the network's former head, Niall Doyle, who is now director of music at RTE: "Niall's current position is a testimony to his abilities and track record - a tuba was just not big enough to hide him," he said, referring of course to Niall's chosen instrument. "I am in no doubt that a cello will not conceal John O'Kane either," he went on to say.