Feast of musical events for all the family at city's Town Hall

Acclaimed Irish pianist John O’Conor is visiting seven venues across the country including Galway’s Town Hall Theatre as part of a series of concerts being presented by NASC, a touring network of seven regional theatre venues.

His appearance in Galway on Monday next, November 22 offers local audiences a unique opportunity to hear the superstar of Irish classical music performing the works of Beethoven, Chopin and Field. The programme for the evening will be: Haydn Sonata in B minor, Beethoven Sonata in C minor, Field – Three Nocturnes, Chopin Berceuse in D flat and Baracarolle Op 60 and Ginastera –Argentinean Dances.

John O’Connor has earned a worldwide reputation as a masterful interpreter of the classic and early-romantic repertoires. Following initial studies in his native Dublin, he continued his education in Vienna with the renowned teacher Dieter Weber. His reputation took a leap when he won First Prize at the Beethoven International Piano Competition in Vienna in 1973, after which he made a special study of Beethoven with the legendary German pianist Wilhelm Kempff.

Since the mid 1970s John has toured the world in recital and concerto appearances and makes regular visits to Europe, the USA, Japan, Korea and China. He has won particular renown for his recordings on the Telarc label, including those of the complete Beethoven Sonatas, the Beethoven Piano Concertos (with the London Symphony Orchestra) and the John Field Nocturnes.

NASC aims to bring performances that have been both critically acclaimed and in high demand from audiences, to the regions and John O’Connor fits that bill.

Meanwhile, this Friday night, November 19 the McNamara family will perform at the Town Hall Theatre as part of their musical tour of Ireland. This event is uniquely devised for a family audience and is an ideal introduction to concert-going for children of all ages.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.