Miceál O'Rourke, Piano
21st Hopkins Literary Festival July 2008

Leading Irish pianist, Miceal O'Rourke will play in 2008 at the 1st Hopkins International Literary Festival. Internationally regarded as the undisputed champion of John Field's music, the Irish pianist Miceal O'Rourke also thrills audiences worldwide with the music of Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin and Lutoslawski. After graduating from Dublin's University College, he studied in Antwerp and Paris. Chandos has released his recordings of the complete Field nocturnes, sonatas and piano concerti. O'Rourke's televised recordings of Chopin's complete nocturnes has been screened throughout Europe, Australia and on PBS in the United States. Recent tours have taken him to Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as Ireland, France, Turkey and the United States.

At the 21st Annual International Hopkins International Literary Festival, Miceál O'Rourke plays John Field, Ludwig van Beethoven, Claude Debussey and Frederic Chopin. Each year, during the last week of July, we have a Classical Music Concert on the famous John McCormack piano in the Baronial Hall, Moore Abbey (courtesy of the Sisters of Charity who now run a wonderful facility for young people in this magnificent setting).

Miceál O'Rourke - biography

Distinguished Irish pianist Miceal O'Rourke has had widespread experience both as guest soloist with major orchestras and as a solo recitalist. His career has taken him to such major venues as Boston Symphony Hall, Washington Kennedy Centre, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Moscow Conservatory Great Hall, Saint Petersburg Philharmonia, Salle Pleyel in Paris and the National Concert Hall in Dublin.

His most recent performances with orchestra include concertos by Ravel and Mozart with Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, concertos by Field with Moscow Symphony, the Chamber Orchestra of the Netherlands and the North German Radio in Hanover, and Rachmaninoff Third Concerto with the National Symphony Orchestra
in Dublin. From his base in Paris, O'Rourke has appeared with French orchestras playing concertos by Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Field, and Shostakovich.

During 2005 he has also appeared in Paris, Lisbon and Saint Petersburg giving performances of piano quintets by Schubert, Shostakovich and Hummel.

Best selling CDs feature John Field

His series of eight best-selling CDs featuring the music of John Field have won a number of prizes and awards : Classic CD Award (Great Britain), ‘Disques de l'Année' of le Monde de la Musique (France), Penguin Awards (USA/Great Britain).

Gramophone Critics' Choice 2000

These include CD recording of solo recitals (on CHANDOS label) of Chopin, Schumann, Debussy, Esposito and George Frederick Pinto.

Festival appearances include ‘White Nights' in Saint Petersburg, Amsterdam Festival at the Concertgebouw, Chopin Festival in Paris, Wexford Festival, Festival in Great Irish Houses, Cracow Festival and ‘Les Nuits Pianistiques' in Aix-en Provence.