Music for Galway’s 41st International Concert Season opens with a new initiative, the Galway Encore; the opening concert, scheduled for tonight Thursday September 29 at 8.00 pm at the Emily Anderson Concert Hall in the University of Galway, will also see a repeat performance in Christ Church in Portumna tomorrow, September 30 at the same time.
Three exquisite musicians, violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, “impassioned and highly energised” (Brighton and Hove Independent ), as versatile as virtuoso violin and viola player Sergey Malov and cellist Natalie Clein “mesmerising” and “soaringly passionate” (the Times ) are joining forces to perform the string trio arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
“The Galway Encore concert in Portumna is an exciting moment in Music for Galway’s history. Together with the Galway County Arts Office we are seeking to give access to first-rate classical music concerts in the wider region.
"Furthermore, MfG is joining the many arts organisations who are becoming more and more conscious of working in a more sustainable way.
"As we bring three artists from three different countries to Galway we want to get the most out of them, hence the repeat performance in Portumna, as well as Sergey Malov’s arrival a day earlier to the Mall Theatre in Tuam, where he will be engaging with close to 400 children in inviting them to ‘Meet the Violins’”- says Anna Lardi, executive director of Music for Galway.
The iconic Bach Goldberg Variations were originally composed for harpsichord and are said to have been written to comfort and ease the insomnia of an ailing Count.
The work has become known and loved through performances on modern piano by artists such as Glenn Gould, and infamous as one of Hannibal Lecter’s favourite pieces in The Silence of the Lambs. The magnificent arrangement for strings was written by Dmitri Sitkovetsky, the uncle of the performing violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky.
“This trio brightened a dark day for us back in January 2021 when they performed at our Midwinter Festival online. At the time we thought at first that we could have a small audience, but in the end the artists could not even travel. However, their online performance from Berlin was so uplifting that we decided to invite them to Galway in person as soon as possible. I am thrilled that this time they will be here to open our Bach-focussed concert season. ”- says Music for Galway artistic director Finghin Collins.
Whether in the west or the east of County Galway or beyond, here is an opportunity to experience the joy and calm that Bach sought to conjure as he wrote the Goldberg Variations, performed by world class artists.
Tickets cost €20 / €18 concession. There is a reduced price for full-time students and school-going children of €6 and MfG Friends pay €16. To book or find out about how to join as MfG Friend, visit our website musicforgalway.ie or phone 091 705962.
Music for Galway gratefully acknowledges the support of the Arts Council. The repeat performance is made possible by the support of Galway County Arts Office and the educational outreach is supported by SAP.
