INTERVIEW: Sir James Galway still on his flute route
Photo: Sir James Galway will offer a recital of classical flute music and Irish music in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the State Theatre / Provided with permission.
Sir James Galway is one of the preeminent interpreters of the classical flute. His recitals and concerts attract the gracious ears of audience members around the world, and this year, the legend, who was born in Northern Ireland, has decided to spend St. Patrick’s Day with hundreds of fans at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His recital is set for Sunday at 3 p.m.
Joining Galway on stage will be equally renowned flutist Lady Jeanne Galway, his wife, and pianist Michael McHale. The selections for the afternoon performance are equal parts classical and Irish. The first half will focus more on flute pieces known to students of the instrument, and the second half is a full-blown Irish festival.
“You have to take into consideration that there’s a ton of kids who come to my concerts, and they’re all flute players,” Galway said in a recent phone interview. “So I have to gear it around flute music and pieces that they play like the [Francis] Poulenc ‘Sonata,’ for example, and the [Gabriel] Fauré ‘Fantasie.’ These are all pieces that the kids play and that they’d love to hear me play, so I do that in the first half. In the second half, we gear it mostly for Irish music, so we play a piece by Hamilton Harty called ‘In Ireland [Fantasy].’ And then I have three Irish folks songs which I play.”
Galway said he loves this time of year when the “Irish are out in force” because of the annual St. Patrick’s celebration. In the crowd at the State will no doubt be some Irish fans and, of course, the Irish at heart.
For Galway, he still enjoys bringing his expert flute playing to music lovers. The instrument has been with him since he was a child.
“It was a fascination,” he said. “When I was about 9, I think, I took up the flute, and it’s been with me ever since. … I just went on playing, and it happened like it happened. … I’m surprised I can still do it.”
Galway said his live playing has been bolstered by the inclusion of his wife and McHale on stage. The collaboration has created some memorable times in the theaters of the world.
“I remember one time in Japan we had a recital, and the audience went crazy,” Galway said. “We were on for our encores, so I said, ‘Hey, let’s do ‘The Teddy Bears’ Picnic.’ And we did. We just there and then played it, never having played it before, and it was a huge hit.”
Galway’s success has been unparalleled. He has sold more than 30 million records, and he has collaborated on a bunch of film soundtracks, including The Lord of the Rings. His musical partnerships extend from Stevie Wonder to Ray Charles to Joni Mitchell to Elton John.
No matter what musical journeys he might be on, he seems to always leave a special spot in his heart for Irish music.
“It’s always there,” he said. “I mean, Irish music is part of being Irish. You grew up with it. You’re surrounded with it. You’re bathed in it. Your parents sing it to you when you’re in the bath.”
He added: “We’re having a good time, not retiring yet.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Sir James Galway will perform Sunday, March 17 at 3 p.m. at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets.
