Craigavon Flautist Eimear McGeown who plays at our Lunchtime Concert at the Spire’s Centre on 2 November

6 October 2011

JTI Lunchtime Concerts Kick Off

The first of our nine JTI Lunchtime Concerts at the Ulster Hall kicked off yesterday with Hungarian Fantasy, a 50 minute concert featuring the young Armagh–born pianist, David Quigley.

The Grand Hall was a buzz before quiet descended and the 700–plus concertgoers sat back and enjoyed a Hungarian themed concert celebrating the 200th anniversary of Liszt’s birth.

“This is our third full Season of lunchtime concerts,” explained Lydia Gamble, the Ulster Orchestra’s Head of Marketing and Development, “and over that time they have built up a great following becoming popular with regular concertgoers, shoppers, city centre office workers and visitors from outside the city.

“This year, our lunchtime concerts are showcasing some for the best that Northern Ireland has to offer in our ‘Home Grown Talent Series. Yesterday’s Hungarian Fantasy featured David Quigley from Armagh who played Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasy for piano and orchestra. Our next Lunchtime Concert on 2 November will feature Eimear McGeown, who is also from County Armagh, and will play Ibert’s Flute Concerto.”

The Home Grown Talent Series will feature some amazing local soloists who have a growing international reputation. David Quigley flew into Belfast from New York to perform where he and his sister – the violinist Joann Quigley – gave a recital at the American Irish Historical Society with music from their recently released CD Rediscoveries: Old and New Music of Ireland.

The UO’s Hungarian–born violinist Tamás Kocsis led the Orchestra’s 62 musicians of the Northern Ireland’s only professional symphony orchestra in a programme that also included DvoÅ�ák’s The Noonday Witch, Liszt’s Rákóczi March and Brahms’ Hungarian Dances 1, 2 and 10.

The next JTI Lunchtime Concert, Après–Midi with an all French programme is on Wednesday 2 November, this concert will now take place at 1.05pm at the Spires Centre, Belfast and not the Ulster Hall. Please be advised that this is a smaller venue and to avoid disappointment pre–booking (028 9023 9955 or online) is advised. Box Office team will only be able to take cash sales that day.

All our remaining 2011/2012 Lunchtime Concerts will take place in the Ulster Hall at 1.05pm and cost £6:

Arias in Advent

Wednesday 14 December 2011

 Lunchtime with Shelley

Wednesday 18 January 2012

 Two Trumpets!

Wednesday 15 February 2012

 Barber’s Violin Concerto

Wednesday 14 March 2012

 Weber’s Clarinet Concerto

Wednesday 18 April 2012

May Time Romance

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Tchaikovsky’s Rococo

Wednesday 13 June 2012