The 14th Walled City Music Festival is taking place this week, and will bring an international line-up of guest artists to perform in Derry~Londonderry’s Christ Church venue.
Raphael Wallfisch, one of the most celebrated cellists performing on the international stage, will open the Festival along with Derry-born pianist Cathal Breslin (also co-artistic director of the Festival). Raphael and Cathal performed the very first Walled City Music Festival together in 2009, so this concert will be a special occasion. Their performance will include music by Brahms, Franck, Schumann, and Debussy.
Irish artists, mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty and pianist Fiachra Garvey join forces on Friday 24th, bringing a programme of beautiful art songs by Grieg, Debussy, Stanford and Elgar.
In the final evening performance of the Festival, Belfast-born pianist Barry Douglas will perform a programme of Schubert and Beethoven for solo piano. Barry has established a major international career since winning the Gold Medal at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. As Artistic Director of Camerata Ireland, the only all-Ireland orchestra, and the Clandeboye Festival, he continues to celebrate his Irish heritage whilst also maintaining a busy international touring schedule.
During the week of Festival, Walled City Music will bring together Young Artists from Northern Ireland Opera, the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Walled City Music Piano Festival to take part in a series of education projects, culminating in a Festival-closing performance by the students in the beautiful surroundings of the Great Hall, Ulster University Magee. This concert will continue the Festival’s tradition of inspiring local young musicians, and placing upcoming Irish talent at the heart of its programming alongside established, world-class artists.
Cathal Breslin, Co-Artistic Director of the Festival, said “The 14th Walled City Music Festival will be one of the most special Festivals so far. It is all about returning home, but now returning in-person and musically is especially important post-pandemic. The theme of “return” is marked from the Festival opening with incredible cellist Raphael Wallfisch, who performed with me to open the very first WCM Festival in 2009. The theme continues with pianist Barry Douglas returning to the Festival to perform a solo recital. Our ongoing promotion of great Irish artists is represented by singer Sharon Carty and pianist Fiachra Garvey, and we are delighted to continue our ongoing collaboration with NI Opera, and to combine that with a pianist from our Piano Festival is our opportunity to showcase some of the best young talent in Ireland. It will definitely be one of the most memorable Festivals we have ever experienced in Derry.”
Full details of the Walled City Music Festival programme can be found on the WCM website. Tickets are available on Ticket Source. Keep an eye on the WCM social media channels for updates.