HAVING taken his Camerata Ireland orchestra from Sao Paulo to Beijing, and soon through New York and Boston to settle for Easter 2016 at Washington, it’s no surprise to find Barry Douglas is in Marseilles for interview.
“It’s 14Celsius here and beautiful,” reports the world class pianistdown the line.
After decades on the roads and oceans, this recording and producing ace sounds as cut and dried a Northerner as is. Camerata Ireland and artistic director Barry Douglas are en route to Limerick’s University Concert Hall for Saturday 13’s evening concert. Any tug from St Valentine?
“No”, he laughs, “but we have done stuff previously around it and other occasions. The music, though, will be very romantic.
“There’s something Spring-like to it, as in the season. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 2 in B is beautiful but rarely played, while his Symphony No. 4 is full of life, full of lyricism and is done a lot.”
Hayden’s Symphony No. 88 in G will complete the uplift.
Douglas spells out his history with Limerick, brought here as a soloist by Limerick Musical Association and the visionary John Ruddock. Ruddock was terrific at moving up young musicians. “John got me my first National Concert Hall recital in 1984 and I played almost every year in Limerick then. One of the highlights, other than working with LMA, was the launch of RTE lyric fm in May 1999 and being invited to play for that concert at UCH”.
Camerata Ireland, founded that same year, comprises 31 musicians “who are like a vast family of Irish or who are resident in Ireland”. Barry Douglas makes the point that the Irish diplomatic corps overseas has been good to them, invited to play at ambassadorial functions across continents over past and present years. But then, Camerata Ireland is inventive and focused.
“We have three aims, to engage with young Irish musicians of talent; to play music throughout the world and showcase wonderful music and musicians; and on a global scale, to be of top quality”.
His own genius is not neglected in that crowded platform. Douglas has the privilege of a ten year contract with Chandos, and precedes his Limerick gig with recording albums in Cork. He speaks of Schubert, and celtic music made with Irish and Scottish musicians. And he’s delighted to have signed off on his latest Brahms.
Not withstanding acknowledgement that the recording industry is tough for all sort of artists, his is an admission of luck to be doing what he loves and every day. Book your seat and Spring-like feeling with his orchestra on www.uch.ie
