Pianist Dida Condria and violinist Julieanne Forrest perform a double headliner at the Solstice Arts Centre, Navan on 5 January. We asked Dida the BIG questions . . .
At just 20, they have both already played in renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Casa Verdi Milan and Sibu Filarmonica.
Behind the music - Julieanne Forrest
In September 2019, Julieanne was announced as the National Concert Hall Young Musician of the Year for Strings. Dida was a Keyboard Category Finalist in the most recent edition of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition, and the winner of the BBC Walter Todds Bursary.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I was born in Romania and moved to Ireland at the age of four. I'm now in my 3rd year of Bachelor’s at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. I also used to be a competitive Irish dancer but my love for piano took over and became my sole focus!
How would you describe your music?
As a primarily classical pianist, I play all genres that encompasses music all the way from the 17th century Baroque to 20th and 21st century composers like Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev and modern-day composers such as Sadie Harrison and Joan Trimble. Although I perform mostly solo repertoire, I love devoting time to my chamber music, such as my duo with Julieanne, playing lieder with classical singers, and other instrumental duos.
Who are your musical inspirations?
I am inspired by so many musicians on a daily basis, be it my teacher, or a recording on YouTube, or playing chamber music with my amazingly talented friends. At the moment, I am drawn to artists such as Murray Perahia, Martha Argerich, Mikhail Pletnev and Nikolai Lugansky and I am inspired by their beauty of sound, attention to detail and emotional expression. But I find lasting inspiration in my own life experiences and emotions, society and the natural world around me.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My parents are avid music enjoyers and they brought me along to all of their choir concerts pretty much from the day I had my first soother! However, the first gigs I vividly remember were Dr. John O’Conor in the National Concert Hall in what must have been 2009 or 2010, and Riverdance probably around the same time.
What was the first CD you ever bought?
My first CD that I bought with my very own money was the Hannah Montana’s Best of Both Worlds concert CD when I was five or six years old (which I was very proud of, by the way) followed by probably an Adele album and Beethoven’s symphonies!
What’s your favourite song right now?
Here is some music I have recently been obsessed with:
Ode to the Mets by The Strokes.
Spain by Chick Corea and Return to Forever.
Rameau: Les Cyclopes (played by Vikungur Olafsson).
Godowsky: Passacaglia (played by Antii Sirrala).
A Poem on the Underground Wall by Simon & Garfunkel.
Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz.
Favourite lyric of all time?
This line from Schubert’s Romanze. The poet is Helmina von Chézy, I believe. „Im Leben fern, im Tode dein! Und sanft brach Herz an Herz." The song is about two lovers separated in life who both gaze up at the same moon from different parts of the world and they cannot be together. The English translation is: 'In life far away, yet in death yours! And gently heart broke upon heart."
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
So hard to choose! Probably Faure’s Requiem. Or Opus 2, 5 by Dreamers’ Circus.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My professional Instagram page is: @didacondria.pianist. I try to post as regularly as possible about concerts, events and snippets of my practice/performances! Also, my Facebook page and YouTube.
Alan Corr
