Irish maestro John O'Conor to join international stars for New Ross Piano Festival

Irish Independent

20-05-2025

Featuring a stellar cast of big names, familiar faces and rising stars, the New Ross Piano Festival returns on September 24 and will run until September 28 in St Mary's Church, New Ross.
With nine concerts, the 2025 Festival provides opportunities for audiences of all ages to experience a variety of piano music and enjoy brilliant performances by renowned solo pianists, duos and quartets.
Opening this year's festival on Wednesday, September 24, the Young Pianists Concert will showcase the talent of local young musicians, many of whom take to the stage of St Mary's Church for their first public performance on a magnificent Steinway D piano.
The 'doyen' of Irish Piano, John O'Conor returns to New Ross on Thursday, September 25, with a programme infused with well-known classics, featuring Schubert and Beethoven, among others.
In addition to world class performances, this year's Festival will offer visitors the opportunity to engage with artists in a free, collaborative masterclass with John O'Conor and two lucky young pianists on Friday afternoon, September 26. Continuing the festival's tradition of celebrating emerging talent, three young competition winners will perform in the ever popular Coffee Concerts. Young Irish pianist David Vesey will kick off the Coffee Concerts that day with a selection from his Carolan CD. Malaysian pianist Magdelene Ho, who stole the hearts of the jury at the 2023 Clara Haskil competition in Switzerland, and Japanese pianist Shunta Morimoto, who carried off the first prize in Hastings in 2022, will also perform over the long weekend.
One of the highlights of the festival is the performance by our Artistic Director, Finghin Collins. This year Finghin will charm audiences with a programme from his new CD inspired by the great French piano manufacturer Pleyel; with Chopin, Debussy and Joseph O'Kelly in the performance.
On Saturday, September 27, in a newly introduced afternoon concert, the festival will showcase timeless classics from the silver screen and Broadway stage in a special concert guaranteed to delight wider audiences. The dynamic Duo Pianistico (Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi) will perform an unmissable 'Broadway and Hollywood in Stride & Swing' concert.
Two big names will feature at this year's festival; Making her Irish debut on Saturday, September 27, German-Greek pianist Danae Dörken will present her new Odyssey album, with a mix of some well-known classics and more contemporary work. With her breath-taking technique and exceptional stage presence, Classical Music Magazine consider Danae to be "on her way right to the top!". Described by the New York Times as playing with '...power, poetry and formidable technique', Hungarian pianist Daniel Lebhardt is a regular performer at the prestigious Wigmore Hall. Daniel, who is also making his Irish debut, will be joined by the UK Castlalian Quartet for the final performance of the evening with Bloch's rarely heard Piano Quintet.
Bringing the festival to a spectacular close on Sunday, September 28, Daniel Lebhardt will perform some of Liszt's finest work in a solo performance, followed by Finghin Collins and the Castalian Quartet with Dvorak's evergreen Piano Quintet.
Commenting on the festival programme, Artistic Director, Finghin Collins said: "We are thrilled to bring together such a rich and diverse programme this year. From classic masterpieces to the stars of tomorrow and the sparkle of the silver screen, the 2025 festival is a celebration of the piano's enduring power to move and inspire."
Friends of the Festival can purchase season tickets now. General Booking opens on July 9. For more information visit: www.newrosspianofestival.com.