NEW ROSS PIANO FESTIVAL IS LAUNCHED ON DUNBRODY
ANNUAL EVENT IS MUSIC TO THE EARS OF NEW ROSS
PIANO music rang out from the Dunbrody famine ship for the launch of this year’s New Ross Piano Festival which takes place from Thursday, September 22, to Sunday, September 25.
The festival is spearheaded by artistic director Finghin Collins, whose international recitals have brought him in touch with many of the leading pianists of the day and Collins was on hand with a young pianist from Cork named Emily Crowley, to give a short recital on the grand piano at the launch on Tuesday evening last.
Deputy Brendan Howlin launched the festival, speaking of the importance of festivals like New Ross Piano Festival in bringing levity and joy into people’s lives, especially in these difficult times.
Festival Director Connie Tantrum said: ‘Strange how a specialised festival can take off. When it was decided to make a weekend crammed with nothing but piano music, nobody foresaw that it would attract such a following. So now it is amazingly the 11th festival which takes place in New Ross. The organisers have enjoyed planning what is a feast of music every year.’
Joining the illustrious list of previous international pianists this year are Nicholas Angelich and Piers Lane. It’s not all classical concerts, however. This year the festival is proud to present two jazz pianists, who will give free half hour programmes around the town. Also on Friday, September 23, Philip Ware is performing.
This year five newly commissioned piano works inspired by the Ros Tapestry collection will be premiered by the five pianists, completing the ambitious three year project, The Ros Tapestry Suite, during which 15 Irish composers have composed works around the 15 embroidered panels.
In 2016 it will be Raymond Deane, Marian Ingoldsby, Garrett Sholdice, Philip Martin and Grainne Mulvey.
‘It is an incredible piece of work, featuring so many living Irish composers. It has engendered great interest, at the festival itself and in later discussions. The Ros Tapestry Suite is potentially one of the most important Irish commissions in recent times.’
Further information on the website: www.newrosspianofestival.com. Booking is at St Michael’s Theatre, 053 51 421255 or www.stmichaelsnewross.com.