Since giving a joint recital with Christa Ludwig in Paris in 1985, pianist Philippe Cassard has established himself as an acclaimed international concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. He won Irish hearts when he dazzled judges and emerged victorious at the inaugural Dublin International Piano Competition in 1988 and since then has been a regular visitor to these shores.
Philippe returns to the National Concert Hall on September 28th for a special 60th birthday performance, inviting an impressive collection of musical friends (including soprano Ailish Tynan and pianists Finghin Collins and Fiachra Garvey) to mark this milestone with him. The programme on the night will have a strong French flavour, featuring music by Debussy, Fauré and Poulenc alongside texts by poets Paul Verlaine and Louise de Vilmorin - find out more here.
We asked Philippe for his choice cultural picks...
FILM
E La Nave Va (And The Ship Sails On) by Federico Fellini (1983). The film tells the story of a luxury ship filled with friends of a deceased opera star Edmea Tetua, who have gathered to disperse her ashes. The greatest movie ever on artists, showing both their glorious and mean sides.
MUSIC
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde. The music is fascinating. It is one of opera's most famous love stories.
BOOK
At the moment, A Confidential Matter: The Letters of Richard Strauss and Stefan Zweig, 1931-1935. It is the collected correspondence between the composer Strauss and his last librettist Stefan Zweig, which shows their warm and fruitful collaboration.
THEATRE
All the Molière plays at La Comédie Française in Paris to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his birth. Their 2022 programme is entirely devoted to the playwright, with many different takes on the comedy master’s works.
TV
All reports and documentaries on nature, earth, climate, animals, seas...
EVENT
The Tory election of the new Prime Minister in Great Britain. In general, hilarious and disastrous.
ART
Sempé, one of the most famous cartoonists in the world, who died recently aged 90. He is best known for his children’s book series Le Petit Nicolas and he also designed covers for The New Yorker for years. He loved music and artists!
Tech
On Instagram, the marvellous The Irish Aesthete of my old Irish friend Robert O'Byrne.
The Next Big Thing...
The 120th birthday of Queen Elisabeth II.
Philippe Cassard returns to the National Concert Hall on September 28th, 2022 for his 60th Birthday Celebration - find out more here. Philippe also performs at University Concert Hall Limerick on October 23rd October, 2022, performing works by Mozart, Debussy and Schubert - find out more here.
