Programme of Events

Raphael Wallfisch is one of the most celebrated cellists performing on the international stage. He opens the Festival on Thursday 23rd March, alongside Derry-born pianist Cathal Breslin (also co-artistic director of the Festival), with a programme including Debussy, Brahms, Schumann and Franck.

Raphael Wallfisch enjoys regular invitations to major festivals, and concert appearances with orchestras such as the London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic and many others around the world.

Cathal Breslin, co-artistic director of the Walled City Music Festival, has been praised worldwide as one of the most exciting pianists of his generation. A growing international career has taken him to concert halls throughout Europe, U.S.A. and Asia, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, Kumho Hall in Seoul, and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

Irish mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty will be joined by Fiachra Garvey (piano) on Friday 24th March, with a programme of beautiful art songs by Grieg, Debussy, Stanford and Elgar

Regularly praised for her musicality and intelligence, her integrity as an artist and the warmth, clarity and agility of her voice, Sharon Carty has firmly established a reputation as a respected interpreter of both early and contemporary works, alongside maintaining a busy schedule in mainstream opera. She has been an Artistic Partner to Irish National Opera since the company began in 2018.

Fiachra Garvey graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, London in 2013 with 1st class honours and distinction in the M.A. in Music Performance. He has performed in venues from the Fazioli Auditorium in Italy to London’s Wigmore Hall.

On Saturday 25th March, celebrated Belfast pianist Barry Douglas will give the final evening
concert of the Festival, with performances of Schubert Impromptus, Beethoven’s
“Appassionata” and Schubert’s iconic Piano Sonata in A minor.

Barry Douglas has established a major international career since winning the Gold Medal at
the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition. As Artistic Director of Camerata
Ireland, the only all-Ireland orchestra, and the Clandeboye Festival, he continues to
celebrate his Irish heritage whilst also maintaining a busy international touring schedule. In
addition to regular concert appearances with the world’s major orchestras including London
Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Russian National, Vancouver and Colorado
Symphonies, and the Halle Orchestra, he is also a highly sought-after recitalist and chamber
musician.

This exciting collaboration between Walled City Music Piano Festival and NI Opera will bring their Young Artists together to perform in the closing event of the 2023 Walled City Music Festival. On Sunday afternoon, soprano Petra Wells and baritone Ryan Garnham will be joined by pianist Dida Condria, to perform a variety concert of vocal favourites in the beautiful surroundings of the Great Hall in Ulster University’s Magee campus.

The recital will set off a week of masterclasses, education and outreach work delivered by the festival’s guest artists to participating Young Artists from NI Opera and Royal Irish Academy of Music, as well as local schools, as Walled City Music continues its tradition of inspiring local young musicians, and placing upcoming Irish talent at the heart of its programming alongside established, world-class artists.