The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, Ian Wilson’s work for narrator, clarinet, piano, violin and cello, based on a text by Gabriel García Márquez, which was first performed in Dublin (2007) and Brighton (2008) will see its European premiere at the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris on December 9.
Narrator Gavin Friday will reprise his role alongside pianist Finghin Collins, clarinettist Carol McGonnell and will be joined by Catherine Leonard on violin and Richard Harwood on cello.

Gavin Friday will be in Brighton, England on Monday 19th, to narrate Ian Wilson’s The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World at the Brighton Festival.
He will be joined by a new ensemble featuring three highly talented young Irish artists and the cellist of the Belcea Quartet. The piece was originally commissioned by the IIB Bank Music in Great Irish Houses Festival with support from the Arts Council of Ireland.
Wilson’s The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World will be performed alongside Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. Together they form the Messiaen Anniversary Concert to mark the centenary of his birth.

• Buy tickets from the Festival website

Composed by Belfast-born Ian Wilson, ‘The Handsomest Drowned Man In The World’ features Gavin Friday, narrator collaborating with musicians Carol McGonnell, clarinet; Catherine Leonard, violin; Guy Johnston, cello and Finghin Collins, piano.
The world première of Wilson’s composition will be staged at the National Gallery of Ireland on October 4th, 2007, 6.30 pm.
Based on Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s short story of the same name, the Winter Festival’s first Arts Council funded commission, marks the 80th birthday of this Nobel prizewinning Colombian author.
Tickets (€20) are available from Tickets Ireland. (Telephone: 1890 305 305/053 913 0503, email: info@ticketsireland.ie)