The Pianist

Mícéal O‘Rourke’s lifelong commitment to music-making and his extensive repertoire have earned him great critical acclaim. His highly distinctive sound, presence, and ability to communicate musically have gripped public and critics alike. Piano Recital “A tremendous virtuoso, playing with the simplicity of a child singing” commented the Boston Globe on his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Third of Concerto. Romantic Music Irish born O‘Rourke has played all over the world from his base in by Paris. He has appeared as soloist with the Royal Philharmonic, London Mozart Players, Boston MÍĊÉAL O‘ROURKE Pops, Hong Kong Chamber Internationally acclaimed Irish pianist Orchestra, Irish National Symphony Orchestra and Th many others. Thursday 17 October 2019 at the Mícéal O‘Rourke Conservatoire Royal Our Sponsors de Musique de Bruxelles

Our sincere thanks to Mícéal for his presence this evening and also to our sponsors, listed All proceeds go to the small-scale humanitarian projects of Femmes d’Europe below, for their generous financial and in-kind support. This will allow the Association to “Helping those in need” help more people in need. Inspiration and influences Programme

Tonight, Mícéal O’Rourke will take us on a musical Ludwig van Beethoven journey across Europe and beyond, performing Piano Sonata n° 14 in C# minor (1801) masterpieces from the romantic piano repertoire. Adagio Sostenuto Allegretto This recital will illustrate the extent to which some Presto Agitato great composers admired and influenced each other. Samuel Barber Chopin deeply admired Beethoven who inspired him Nocturne Opus 33 (1959) for several of his compositions, thus showing what one Homage to John Field genius actually hears in the work of another. John Field Nocturne n° 10 in E minor (1816) Irish Russian composer John Field invented the “nocturne” - a musical genre which many Frédéric Chopin musicians, including Chopin, developed and made Ballade n° 4 in F minor (1842) their own. In his preface to his edition of John Ten-minute interval Field’s nocturnes, Franz Liszt wrote: “None have quite attained these vague eolian Modest Mussorgsky harmonies, these self-formed sighs floating Pictures at an Exhibition (1874) through the air, softly lamenting and dissolved Promenade The Gnome in delicious melancholy. Nobody has ever Promenade attempted this peculiar style, and especially The Old Castle none of those who heard Field himself play, Promenade or rather who heard him dream his music in Tuileries (Children’s Quarrel after Games) moments when he entirely abandoned himself to Cattle Promenade his inspiration”. Ballet of Unhatched Chicks “Samuel” Goldenberg and “Schmuÿle” As a talented nine-year-old pianist, the composer Modest Promenade Mussorgsky played one of Field’s piano concertos. More Limoges, the Market Catacombs recently American composer Samuel Barber wrote a nocturne With the Dead in a Dead Language as a tribute to John Field. Baba Yaga (the Hut on Hen’s Legs) The Great Gate of Kiev We are very grateful to Mícéal O’Rourke for taking us through such a delightful and enlightened programme. “Verre de l’Amitié” sponsored by the Embassy of Ireland