No sooner has pianist John O’Conor retired from the Royal Irish Academy than his remarkable insights into the art of playing the piano have been picked up by Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music, it announced late this afternoon.
O’Conor will join the faculty of the Conservatory’s Glenn Gould professional school starting with the 2014-15 academic year.
The Irish pianist is much better known on the other side of the Atlantic, but has been a regular recitalist in this city, thanks to Music Toronto.
He is a truly remarkable artist, and a down-to-earth, engaging man who has a knack for connecting with people.
O’Conor is best known for championing John Field, the Irish Chopin, and for his supremely elegant interpretations of the world of Ludwig van Beethoven.
A Conservatory spokesperson confirms that O’Conor’s new job in Toronto will include performance opportunities here, as well.
Here is O’Conor playing Field’s Nocturne No. 6:
John Terauds