Dynamic piano duo in concert

Music for Galway’s artistic director, the pianist Finghin Collins will be joined by his colleague and friend, French pianist Cédric Tiberghien for a night of piano frolics on Thursday next, May 4, at the Emily Anderson Concert Hall at NUIG.

The two phenomenal pianists will perform solo pieces by Bach, Szymanowski and Bartok for the first half of this show. For the second half, they will join forces to give a ‘most dynamic, nuanced and joyful . . . ’ performance of Brahms’ popular and tuneful Hungarian Dances as part of the ‘Aimez-vous Brahms?’ season.

Finghin Collins, a familiar face in Galway, is one of Ireland’s most loved and celebrated pianists, despite only turning 40 recently. After studying with John O’Conor at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, his international career was launched in earnest in 1999 when he won the prestigious Clara Haskil Competition in Switzerland. Finghin has since travelled the world while developing a career as a soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. He’s currently in his fourth season as Artistic Director for Music of Galway.

Cédric Tiberghien, who has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls across five continents, previously gave a recital in the Emily Anderson Concert Hall in 2009. For his return visit, he has chosen to play the music of Béla Bartok, following his major focus on the Hungarian composer’s music, which culminated in a three-volume, critically acclaimed exploration of Bartok’s solo piano works.

■ Tickets for Thuirsday’s concert cost €20 / MFG Friends and concessions €16 / and full time students €6. They can be booked through Music for Galway 091 705962; online at musicforgalway.ie; or in person from Opus 2 on High Street, Galway City.