By Dan Walsh in New Ross
An exciting programme has been arranged for the 17th New Ross Piano Festival (September 20-24th) taking place in St. Mary’s Church, New Ross, details of which were announced by Artistic Director, Finghin Collins, at a special launch on board the Dunbrody Famine Ship on New Ross quayside last evening (Tuesday).
Guest speaker was Dr. Eamonn McKee, Irish Ambassador to Canada, who spoke about the many links between Ireland and Canada and he related the emigrant voyage of the Fitzwilliam estate occupants from Coollattin from New Ross port during the Famine years of the mid-19th century.
Artistic Director Finghin Collins also played Canada and recalled happy memories from there, he also performed a few piano pieces, as did Grace Mercer. John Kissane, Chairman of New Ross Piano Festival Committee, welcomed the invited attendance and acted as master of ceremonies.
This year there is a lot of Rachmaninov, on the 150th anniversary of his birth. Sergei Rachmaninov was born on April 1st 1873 into a family of the Russian aristocracy which had a strong musical tradition. Interestingly, his paternal grandfather had taken lessons from the Irish composer John Field.
Pianist Lucy Parham is bringing the actor Tim McInnerny to perform Elegie, a musical journey through Rachmaninov’s life and compositions.
Meagan Milatz is coming over from Canada, as part of an exciting collaboration with the festival at Le Domaine Forget near Quebec, whereby both festivals commissioned piano pieces inspired by the Dunbrody Ship, which was built in Quebec. The replica ship, the Dunbrody is one of New Ross’s tourist attractions, dealing as it does with emigration to America from this area.
The Festival has always encouraged a youth element, in several ways. There is one whole evening concert given by 20 young piano students from the South East, there are sessions in the Library with primary school children, and the talk and concert performance to second level students in the church, as well as a public master-class with one of the guest pianists, Lucy Parham, and two advanced students.
Festival tickets are booked via St. Michael’s Theatre, New Ross, (055 421255). Lots more detail in the brochure and on the website, www.newrosspianofestival.com
WexfordLocal.com 