Arborist | ft Maria McManus & Errigal Ensemble | Whisper Project #10

A Whisper Project with an audience.. New territory!

I was beyond delighted to be asked to create something in conjunction with Starling Start & Belfast Stories for European Heritage open Day earlier this year, in what has become the first Whisper Project in front of a live audience.. No 2nd takes here!

A special session required a special artist - Arborist (aka Mark McCambridge) who in turn enlisted the help of poet Maria McManus and Errigal Ensemble to collaborate on a full concert performance that honoured the art-deco splendour of the Bank of Ireland Building on Royal Avenue in central Belfast.

Built in 1930 to designs by Joseph Vincent Downes, but neglected in recent years and damaged by close shaves with the wrecking ball next door, the building still stands tall and is about to be transformed into an ambitious new visitor centre, called Belfast Stories.

This session was a team effort from start to finish and the following people deserve praise for making it happen so beautifully.

Arborist/Mark McCambridge
Errigal Ensemble (Laura McFadden: Cello, Katherine Sung & Emma Masterson: violins, Coleen McMullan: viola)
Maria McManus (Poetry Recital)

Amberlea Neely/ Starling Start (Production)
Ciara McMullan, Laura MacLennan (additional cameras)
Phil d'Alton (Sound Engineer & Mixer)
Matty McIvor (Live Sound)
Emer Burton / Maywe Events (Event Management)
Nuala McElroy, Eimear Henry, Michelle Bagnall, Wendy Langham (Belfast City Council / Belfast Stories)

Tracks:
Arborist: My Sailor Boy
Maria McManus: Mudusa's Notebook
Arborist: Alabaster Skin

Directed and Edited by Joe Laverty 2023.