With the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s death approaching next year, Music for Galway’s 45th International Concert Season is inspired by classical music’s German revolutionary.
Music for Galway’s latest season of events, titled ‘Breaking Boundaries’, was launched this week, and will commence in November.
“The title was initially inspired by the coming Beethoven bicentenary,” says artistic director Finghin Collins. “He was a composer known for having broken many musical boundaries during his lifetime, and indeed his work features prominently throughout the season.”
ConTempo Quartet in partnership with MusicConnects will perform three of Beethoven’s string quartets as part of the Emily Anderson Concert, on November 27, at the University of Galway.
For the Midwinter Festival from January 22 to January 24, the quartet will be joined by the Vogler Quartet to complete the entire cycle of Beethoven String Quartets at the Town Hall Theatre - a golden opportunity for audiences to experience Beethoven’s astonishing development.
“I am also especially pleased to welcome back my own mentor John O’Conor for a piano recital at the Hardiman Hotel on March 14,” says Collins. “He celebrates his 80th birthday devoting the programme to Beethoven, the composer with whom he is most affiliated.”
Music for Galway also sees ‘Breaking Boundaries’ as an opportunity to open up, connect, and let in. In partnership with Crash Ensemble, Music for Galway has commissioned Ed Bennett to write a piece for the ensemble joined by community musicians.
In Galway city on October 17 in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, and repeated in Gort at Sullivan’s Royal Hotel on October 18, a number of community choirs will perform Everything is Connected with the ensemble. An ISL (Irish Sign Language ) interpreter will be present at the Galway performance.
“Reaching out, opening up also happens through a variety of performances that are designated as ‘relaxed’ performances. The four lunchtime concerts in partnership with Arts in Action at the University of Galway are part of these and so are the ‘MfG Out and About’ concerts, where visiting artists are invited to further engagements in the community. This is a very important part of our activities and we are grateful to our partners, the University of Galway and Aerogen for their support”, says Music for Galway CEO Anna Lardi.
Breaking through are two young pianists, Paul Lecocq (France ) and Carter Johnson (Canada ), winners of two important international piano competitions; the Swiss, Clara Haskil competition and the Dublin International Piano Competition, respectively. They are invited to perform at the ‘Piano Gourmand’ concert on October 3 at the Ardilaun Hotel, modelled on the French Café Gourmand model of dazzling performances.
Music for Galway has also announced that May of 2027 will see another edition of the incredibly successful cello festival Cellissimo. In partnership with the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, Music for Galway will give A Taste of Cellissimo as they present German star cellist Daniel Müller-Schott with the orchestra in Leisureland on November 12.
The Galway Messiah was a runaway success last year and Music for Galway is delighted to partner with Resurgam once again to present this unique Galway take on Handel’s oratorio on December 6 at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.
From macro to micro: violin/vocal duo Nurit Stark and Caroline Melzer travel from Berlin to the Mick Lally Theatre on February 12 with a programme called Fragments, based on Kafka texts and music by legendary contemporary composer Kurtág, who turned 100 earlier this year.
On April 8 and 9, ‘Breaking Boundaries’ comes to a close with the prize-winning Paddington Trio who will perform a mouth-watering programme at St Joseph’s Church and the following night at Mount Carmel Chapel in Loughrea.
Music for Galway is a charity funded by the Arts Council, Galway City Council, corporate and private sponsorship, and donations.
