In celebration of the 100th Birthday in March of one of Ireland’s finest harpists, Sheila Larchet Cuthbert, a chance to hear Aedín Gormley’s interview with her, recorded in 2012, when she was a guest on ‘My Tunes’ and the two listened to, and discussed a number of music pieces that held a special meaning for her.
Sheila played a big part in the promotion and teaching of both the Irish harp and the concert harp in Ireland. Her father John F. Larchet was an eminent composer and Director of Music at the Abbey Theatre from 1907-1934. He was also Professor of Harmony and Counterpoint at the Royal Irish Academy of Music from 1920-1955 and Professor of Music at UCD from 1921-1958.
Sheila has enjoyed a very successful career holding several important orchestral positions including principal harpist in the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester and the then RTÉ Symphony Orchestra in Dublin. She passed on her great talents as a teacher, establishing classes for Irish and concert harp in the College of Music. She also represented Ireland on the Corporation and Board of Directors of The World Harp Congress.
(First broadcast 3rd September 2012)
RTÉ lyric fm, Saturday 3rd June, 5.30pm-6.30pm
