Michael McHale's Irish Piano Tour

By Terry Blain, 23 May 2014

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Reviewed at Queen's University, Harty Room, Belfast on 22 May 2014

Schubert, Impromptu no. 2 in E flat major, D.899

Field, Nocturne no. 10 in E minor

Chopin, Nocturne no. 18 in E major, Op.62 no.2

Barber, Nocturne "Homage to John Field", Op.33

Wallace, Roslyn Castle

Traditional, Cailín ó cois tSuire Mé ((arr. McHale) )

Traditional, The Coulin ((arr. McHale) )

Hammond, The Beardless Boy

Dennehy, North Circular

Sholdice, Am Koppenplatz

Hammond, Open the door Softly

Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition

Michael McHale, Piano

A lunchtime feast from Michael Collins and Michael McHale

Mark Pullinger, 18th June

Two Michaels – Collins and McHale – provided the musical nourishment in today’s lunchtime recital from Wigmore Hall, a feast of classic clarinet sonatas.

****1

Ulster Youth Orchestra alumni celebrate their founding

Leighton Jones, 29th December

Honouring a quarter-century since their creation, alumni from the orchestra united to give a very special anniversary commemorative concert filled with musical fellowship and pride.

****1

Autumn sunshine and Gallic flair

Mark Pullinger, 26th September

Watery September sunshine and an autumnal air hung over Wigmore Hall, appropriate conditions for a recital of late clarinet sonatas.

****1

Carlo Rizzi brings Respighi’s Rome to Birmingham

Robert Gainer, 15th April

Carlos Rizzi believes that Puccini’s orchestrations are good enough to stand alone, without their vocal lines, but can the drama compete with the romance of Respighi?

****1

Tharaud and Queyras celebrate 30 years together in Paris

David Karlin, 14th April

Crisp and elegant cello and piano playing is more successful in French and early repertoire than in Brahms.

****1

Poetry and Precision: Seong-Jin Cho returns to Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 12th April

A little over a year after his marathon all-Ravel recital at the Hall, the Korean pianist returns with an exquisitely performed program of Bach, Schoenberg, Robert Schumann, and Chopin.

*****

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Terry Blain

Terry Blain is a freelance arts journalist who writes regularly on classical music, dance and theatre for a variety of publications, including BBC Music Magazine, Opera, Irish Theatre Magazine, Culture Northern Ireland, and the Belfast Telegraph. He is also a Specialist Tutor at the Open University.