Paul Herriott looks back at the 70th birthday celebration of pianist John O’Conor which was presented live from the National Concert Hall.
Iconic Irish piano legend John O’Conor celebrates his 70th birthday in style with Beethoven’s most spiritual Piano Concerto, the magisterial, mysterious, magnificent Fourth – music of dramatic contrasts that begins in hushed introspection, features the most intricate and intimate dialogue between piano and orchestra and ends in a blaze of exhilarating passion and power. Bruckner’s lyrical Seventh Symphony – a high-watermark of the orchestral repertoire – offers its own rich and rewarding appeal under the baton of former principal conductor, Gerhard Markson.
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G
Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E
John O’Conor (piano)
Gerhard Markson (conductor)
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
RTÉ lyric fm, Friday 16th June, 8pm-10pm