RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra Spring Tour
with Barry Douglas
April 12-14, 2012

Thursday 12 April
Leisureland, Galway, 8pm

BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 [44']
BRAHMS Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 [39']

Barry Douglas piano/conductor

'The energy and persuasiveness of his solo playing were unflinching' The Irish Times
on Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with Barry Douglas and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, September 2010.

Gold Medal winner at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition, Moscow, Barry Douglas enjoys an international career as a soloist, recording artist and conductor. As a pianist, he has been praised as much for his 'brilliance', 'technical virtuosity' and 'flawless execution' as for playing which is 'weighty [and] wonderfully intense', 'magical', 'glittering and powerfully sonorous' and emotionally profound.

On tour, this renowned exponent of the Romantic piano repertoire returns to the challenge which he first took on with the RTÉ NSO in 2010: directing Brahms' daring and mighty first piano concerto from the keyboard. He goes on to conduct the Fourth Symphony, Brahms' pinnacle of symphonic achievement showing Brahms the Master, in full song and at the height of his powers: music of bleak but beautiful gracefulness where autumnal mellowness and beauty clash with gravitas and rugged fire, building to a stunning sonic climax.

Thursday 12 April
Leisureland, Galway, 8pm
Tickets: €22 (Members/conc, €18, student €10)
Booking: Music for Galway, 091 705 962
In person: Opus II, No. 4 High Street, Galway

OTHER EVENTS:
13 April: University Concert Hall Limerick
14 April: City Hall Cork