In the late 1920's, the young Samuel Beckett travelled to Kassel in Germany to visit his aunt Cissie. There, he fell tragically in love with his first cousin Peggy and, through her art dealer father William ‘Boss' Sinclair, came face to face with German expressionism which will prove a profound influence on his work.

The Six Paintings concert explores the ekphrastic linkages between visual art and music, developed by Unreal Cities in consultation with Professor Mark Nixon, the director of the Beckett International Foundation and the editor of Beckett’s German diaries, to be published for the first time in 2026.

The programme brings together six of the world’s leading musicians to respond to six paintings that each play a role in this complex story, alongside Samuel Beckett’s impressions and writings narrated by Anna Nygh. Featuring Iarla Ó Lionáird (voice and electronics), Michelle O'Rourke (voice), Cheng Yu (guqin), Niwel Tsumbu and Benjamin Dwyer (guitars), and Mary Dullea (piano), the performance explores Beckett’s work through a rich blend of voices and instruments.

(Image above: Leyhausen, Karl - Peggy Sinclair, 1931 (cropped))

Presented by Unreal Cities in association with the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool as part of the Beckett: Lieben 2026 festival

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Access seats are available to visitors with additional access requirements such as wheelchair users. Sign-up to the access scheme to book these seats.

This performance is not likely to be suitable for children under 5 due to the acoustics in the auditorium. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Under-10’s are not permitted to sit on the balconies.

Food and hot drinks are not permitted in The Tung Auditorium.
The Fröhlich Café Bar is open for drinks 90 minutes prior to the start of each performance and during the interval. We recommend pre-ordering your interval drinks before the performance starts.

This concert will last approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, including an interval.

Read the booking full terms and conditions here.