Irish violinist Patrick Rafter has announced a Christmas-themed classical music festival in his hometown of Kilkenny later this month, with an extra date in Cork in December. We asked him the BIG questions . . .
The Marble City Music Festival will take place in St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny from 28 November to 1 December and Curtis Auditorium, Cork School of Music on 6 December.
Patrick will be joined by musicians Claudia Boyle, Fiachra Garvey, the Rafter Family and Michel Lethiec for the evenings of solo Bach, A Family Christmas Concert, Chamber Orchestra and soloists, along with a violin and piano recital.
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I'm a proud Kilkenny man - there came a point I had to leave the hurl and choose the bow! I am the world’s biggest child - every Christmas I am the man that can spend hours playing with a remote-control car and just about any fun family game he can get his hands on! I adore my family. I am extremely blessed to have a wonderful wife, parents, sibling and in-laws. I’ve never been someone who has hundreds of friends - instead the ones I have are wonderful and I trust them implicitly.
How would you describe your music?
My music is about connecting with people. Music has this awesome power to lift us out of circumstance and bring us into this present moment. Recently, I played Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with Camerata Ireland at the National Concert Hall in Dublin - rarely in my life have I felt such an attentive audience who were with me and all the incredible musicians on stage throughout the performance. Music gives me the ability to connect with anyone - it’s universal and unites us as humans.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Many - I grew up in a musical family and I was surrounded by music from before I was born. I think there are some singers I really feel were given some extraordinary gift and could connect with people - Maria Callas, Jussi Björling. Freddie Mercury is someone I have found truly inspired me with his musicality and sheer abandonment in his music. All the crooners too - Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin - they are incredible.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I first started going to different concerts from a really young age - probably five or six. I have a few stand out concerts - Elton John at the Montreux Jazz in Switzerland and Barry Douglas in recital in Clandeboye back when I was 16.
What was the first record you ever bought?
Sadly, I am of an age where I have nearly always streamed - but when I was a child I did buy a Johnny Cash CD - I remember being jealous of all the low notes he could sing - but I was at the old awkward voice-breaking teenage years!
What’s your favourite song right now?
I really can’t answer that - I have so, so much music at any given time that it always changes. I adore swan lake by Tchaikovsky and I’m always find the beauty in Bach - I’ll play his famous Chaconne in November so I’m practicing it lots now! I’m listening lots to some older guys at the moment too - Stephane Grapelli and Django did some really incredible things.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Hahah - my wife will laugh at this. I struggle to ever remember lyrics - don’t ask me why! But I have always been a fan of people who make their music into poetry - for instance Leonard Cohen.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Guillaume Lekeu sonata for violin and piano - I recently recorded this with Fiachra Garvey and it comes out on with Rubicon Classics on the 29 November. It is one of the most powerful pieces I have ever played. It has everything - anger, hope, pain, joy, anguish, humour and any other human emotion that exists.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Follow on Instagram and Facebook. The website for my festival in Kilkenny has some great updates on my life.
Alan Corr
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