NSOI: John O’Conor at 80 plays Beethoven

National Symphony Orchestra Ireland
David Brophy conductor
John O'Conor piano 

Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3
Elgar Enigma Variations
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3

Few artists are as deeply woven into Ireland’s musical life as Irish pianist John O’Conor. For decades, his performances at the National Concert Hall have drawn devoted audiences, captivated by his poetic clarity and authority in Beethoven’s repertoire.

Recognised as a leading exponent on Beethoven’s music, his recordings of the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas led CD Review to write that he ‘by now should be recognised as the world’s premier Beethoven interpreter’. Awarded the NCH Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, O’Conor’s influence extends far beyond the concert platform, through his dedication to teaching and nurturing the next generation of performers. As he marks his 80th birthday, this special concert becomes more than a performance, it is a celebration of a remarkable career, of O’Conor’s lasting artistic legacy but also a celebration of Beethoven’s music, by such a renowned interpreter of his music, in this the 200th Beethoven anniversary year at the National Concert Hall. 

Presented by NCH