Acclaimed chamber orchestra Camerata Ireland, fresh off its second and highly successful tour of the United States, have released its first CD, featuring Barry Douglas performing Beethoven’s Piano Concertos No. 2 and No. 4.
The 40-piece ensemble group first performed in April 1999 at the Stormont Parliament Building in Belfast and at Dublin castle in association with CoOperation Ireland, an organization devoted to bringing peace to the island of Ireland.
Douglas, Camerata’s artistic director, conductor and pianist, won the 1986 Tchaikovsky International piano competition in Moscow in 1986 and has had a stellar career since. The Belfast man has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra and The Israel Philharmonic. His vision for Camerata is that it not only be a great working orchestra, but that it also be a vehicle for its 40 members to act as ambassadors for Ireland, inspiring others and celebrating their identity through the medium of classical music.
Camerata prides itself on nurturing Irish musical talent, and provides funds for 12 young musicians to study under Douglas and other international musicians each year. ♦
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