Bringing music to the town's streets
Garda Lisa Condon stops traffic as pianist and Artistic Director Finghin Collins plays the piano at the launch of the New Ross Piano Festival at the Tholsel last week.
Tuesday August 31 2010
CONFUSED GLANCES were thrown at the New Ross Piano Festival organisers last Wednesday afternoon as they caused quite a stir placing a grand piano in the middle of one of the town's busiest junctions.
Traffic was held up, albeit momentarily, as Artistic Director Finghin Collins performed some of the festival's exciting programme at the junction outside the Tholsel.
Traffic Warden Johnny Grey and Garda Lisa Condon had a job on their hands trying to appease some motorists, who looked baffled by the entire scenario.
However, as soon as the all-important photographs were taken the piano was whisked away and transported down to the Dunbrody Famine Ship for the official launch later that evening.
Minister Sean Connick launched the festival locally, while Finghin Collins, who is due to appear at the Proms in London early in September, outlined the programme piano lovers can expect to hear when the festival takes place in St. Mary's Church from Thursday, September 23 until Sunday, September 26.
This year's programme celebrates two anniversaries, that of Chopin and of Schumann, two of the greatest composers for the piano.
The pianists for this year's festival are once again a mix of Irish and international.
On the international front admirers are looking forward to hearing the young Chinese girl, Sa Chen, and the more mature French Lebanese man with a fascinating name, Abdel Rahman El Bacha. Both of these are famous for their playing of Chopin. Together with the Renoir Quartet from Paris they will play Chopin's only two piano concertos, amongst other things.
Irish interest lies with Rebecca Capova from Cork, and of course Finghin Collins.
Ancillary events are organised around young people and around twenty local piano students will be playing on the first night, Thursday, of the festival. If you wish to apply to play that night please notify Olive Thorpe as soon as possible at olivethorpe@eircom.net or by phone at 051 424557.
Young Rebecca Capova will also visit Our Lady of Lourdes Secondary School on the Friday to talk and play to the second level music students from the town and beyond. If you wish to attend this free session, which is always a wonderful insight into the life of a professional pianist, please contact Maeve Wilson at the school on 051 422177 as places are limited.
On Saturday afternoon, Libor Novacek will give a free public masterclass to two third level students, one from Waterford and one from Dublin. Anyone can pop in and listen.
On both Friday and Saturday Colm 'Stride' O'Brien will be back by popular demand playing down town on South Street, which will be closed off for these sessions. So you can have your lunch or tea while listening to fabulous free rag time music.
Booking is taking place at St. Michael's Theatre on 051 421255 at present and tickets are reasonably priced. Students are encouraged to attend the festival and the cost of the weekend ticket is a deliberately low €35.
- ELAINE FURLONG
