Acclaimed pianist and ICO Associate Artist Kristian Bezuidenhout returns to the Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) to perform Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto (Emperor), completing the composer’s extraordinary piano cycle at University Concert Hall, Limerick (Friday 6 March), and Whyte Recital Hall, RIAM, Dublin (Saturday 7 March).
Kristian is the kind of pianist who makes you lean in and listen. His playing is alive, urgent, and thrillingly present, bringing Beethoven’s drama, wit, and surprises to life. Feel the music pulse beneath your skin as the Emperor seizes you. The piano bursts in, fearless and exuberant, then flows seamlessly from explosive power to hushed intimacy. Feel the vitality, and by the finale, it’s unstoppable and exhilarating.
Paired with Beethoven’s lively Octet for Winds in E-flat major, these concerts chart a vivid journey across his life. The Octet sparkles with youthful energy and playfulness, voices chatting and dancing in joyful conversation. The Fifth Piano Concerto reveals the mature master – bold, daring, and unforgettable. Together, they take the listener from teasing charm to triumphant grandeur.
As always ICO champions Irish composers and Linda Buckley’s Fall Approaches draws the listener into a quiet, intimate space of reflection and memory, a moment to pause, listen, and simply be.
Experiencing Kristian Bezuidenhout is stepping inside a living musical mind. For anyone who loves Beethoven, who wants to feel music in its full emotional sweep, this is a performance not to miss. Join Irish Chamber Orchestra at University Concert Hall, Limerick, and Whyte Recital Hall, Dublin on 6 and 7 March.
As Ireland’s national chamber orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra captivates audiences at home and abroad with its energy and artistry, proudly based at the University of Limerick. Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, ICO brings Irish music-making to life across Ireland and beyond.