Left hand British pianist to visit SA for three concerts

Nicholas McCarthy is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist who was born without a right hand. On coming Friday night, 15th February, at the Linder Auditorium in Johannesburg, he will play the first of his three concerts in South Africa. The unique 23 year old pianist will then continue his tour of the country and play in Cape Town and Durban as well.

McCarthy himself discovered his musical talent relatively late, at the age of 14. But he was a determined teenager, and through sheer perseverence it secured him a place at the prestigeous Royal College of Music in London, an institution established in 1882, producing world renowned musicians for more than a century. Unique, because McCarthy was the first ever only left handed pianist enrolled at the college.

One of the most recents highlights in his career was a performance at the Paralympics Closing Ceremony in London with the BritishParaorchestra.

His visit also represents the first concert tour by a one-handed pianist to South Africa, although Ravel’s well-known Concerto for the Left Hand is sporadically performed by two-handed pianists.

McCarthy can best be described as “a serious jovial person”. He introduces his programmes to his audiences, the programme by itself is also unique in the South African recital context.

McCarthy has chosen impressive and technically demanding works for his first South African tour, music composed for the left hand only and well-known music for solo piano transcribed for the left hand. In the first half he will chose from works by Bach/Gounod, Fumagalli’s transcription of “Casta diva” from Bellini’s Norma, the Left Hand Sonata by Carl Reinecke, Scriabin’s Prelude and Nocturne, op 9, and the Napolitan song Mappari. For the second half he will select from art songs by Richard Strauss and Schubert, transcriptions by Liszt and the Etude for the Left Hand, op. 36, by Felix Blumenfeld.

McCarthy’s concert tour certainly promises something exceptional for classical music lovers, and indeed very special for lovers of piano music. Bookings: From R330 at Computicket (www.computicket.com, Checkers