June 27th, 2019: Guy Livingston and Claire Cunningham are pleased to announce that their documentary “Victor Herbert, Son of Dublin” has been awarded the Silver Medal for best biographical feature, at the New York International Radio Festival Awards.
Composer Victor Herbert was of the most prolific and highly regarded composers of light classical music in the late 19th and early 20th century, the Andrew Lloyd Webber of his day, and although he declared himself a proud Irishman all his life, his name is practically unknown in Ireland.
Musician Guy Livingston tells the story of the composer’s life and work. He meets Alyce Mott of the Victor Herbert Renaissance Project Live in New York to hear about her passion for Herbert’s music. In Ireland, conductor David Brophy talks about recording Herbert’s work ‘Eileen’ for CD, while cellist William Butt demonstrates some of Herbert’s cello music and admires his skill both as a player and composer for the instrument. US historian Marion Casey recounts Herbert’s family background and Irish connections, revealing that the story is not quite as straightforward as it might seem.
And Claire and Guy travel to New York City to visit ASCAP, co-founded by Herbert, to play his piano, see old photos and scores, and tour the Victor Herbert room.
- (First broadcast January 27th 2019)
- Presenter : Guy Livingston
- Producers Claire Cunningham and Guy Livingston.
- Sound : Tinpot Productions.
- A Rockfinch Production for RTÉ lyric fm, funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from the Television Licence Fee.
- Many thanks to Michael Spudic and ASCAP for making this show possible.
- Special thanks to the Victor Herbert Foundation.
