Irish Soprano Helen Hancock and German pianist Paul Cibis celebrate the launch of their album TOGETHERNESS

With a lead role in the opera Lady Gregory in America (Colm Toibín/Alberto Caruso) at the Gregory-Yeats Autumn Gathering in September 2025, numerous sold out performances and her first nationwide tour with her German pianist Paul Cibis under her belt, 2025 has been a wonderful year for Helen Hancock. Renowned for her expressive artistry and for the warm atmosphere and rapport she generates with the audience, she is delighted to welcome Paul back to Ireland for her first performances of 2026. This enchanting programme on the theme of love in the Goethe-Institut promises to be an unforgettable evening that will uplift your soul.

This rich programme explores many facets of love: from the ecstacy of early love to engagement and marriage, the birth of children, the pain of loss and the experience of love that continues beyond the grave. The programme includes:

• Frauenliebe und -leben (a woman's love and life). This very famous and moving song cycle will feature a mix of settings by Robert Schumann and Carl Loewe as featured on the album
• Stunning folksongs from Greece (Ravel's Cinq Mélodies populaires grecques) will bring exotic places to mind and lift the winter blues ✨ Irish songs by Ina Boyle, Thomas Moore and Crisotóir Ó Loingsigh and audience favourites from Porgy and Bess and West Side Story