Skip to main content

Ruth Gibson & Fiachra Garvey

Viola / Piano

Ruth Gibson and Fiachra Garvey
Ruth Gibson and Fiachra Garvey
Date & Time
Thursday 8th May 2025, 8pm
Venue
Russborough House
Ticket Info
Tickets €42 / €21 student concession
(+ booking fee)

For group bookings or for those having any issues booking, please contact manager@westwicklowfestival.com
Artists
Ruth Gibson / Viola
Fiachra Garvey / Piano
Programme
J. Brahms Scherzo in C minor from FAE Sonata, Wo0 2
I. Boyle Phantasy for viola and piano
R. Clarke Sonata for viola and piano 

Interval

Z. Kodály Adagio for viola and piano
C. Franck Sonata in A major

A spellbinding opening on Thursday 8th May featuring one of Ireland’s foremost violists, Ruth Gibson, and the festival’s Founder and Artistic Director, Fiachra Garvey. This extraordinary duo will present an inspired programme of both iconic and rarely performed works for viola and piano.

Ruth Gibson, principal viola of the world-renowned Aurora Orchestra, and pianist Fiachra Garvey have been collaborators for over 20 years. In this special reunion, they will perform a programme of masterpieces and hidden gems, blending timeless favourites with lesser-known treasures. Highlights include Rebecca Clarke’s and Franck’s monumental Sonatas, alongside the stunning Phantasy by pioneering Wicklow composer Ina Boyle. Works by Brahms and Kodály further enrich this captivating programme, making it a perfect start to the festival. Don't miss it!

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations (Live from a Liverpool Factory) | Manchester Collective

Ruth Gibson with Manchester Collective

Aurora Orchestra, that extraordinary group of young musicians who’ve shaken up the orchestral world
Ivan Hewitt, writing for The Telegraph, on Aurora Orchestra, where Ruth Gibson serves as principal violist.
…a deep and infectious enthusiasm, combined with insight and technical comfort.
Sunday Times (on Fiachra Garvey)

Ruth Gibson is a violist whose artistry bridges classical tradition and contemporary innovation. Known for her expressive performances and commanding presence, she made her Proms debut in 2021 with the Manchester Collective and Mahan Esfahani, performing Dobrinka Tabakova’s Suite in Old Style.

A champion of modern repertoire, Ruth’s performances have earned critical acclaim. Her recent recording of Caroline Shaw’s In Manus Tuasreceived a five-star review from Gramophone Magazine, highlighting her ability to blend technical brilliance with emotional depth. Equally lauded was her recent performance of Vijay Iyer’s Song for Flintat Wigmore Hall. This dedication to contemporary music extends to her collaboration with SANSARA where she toured Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel across the UK and Europe earlier this year.

Ruth’s chamber music career is equally distinguished. As a former member of the Castalian String Quartet and Ensemble 360, she performed widely across major European concert halls, earning recognition for her versatility and sensitivity. She now holds the position of principal violist with Aurora Orchestra, celebrated for its innovative, theatrical approach to performance. She continues to thrive in spaces of improvised music and cross genre in her musical collaboration with Abel Selaocoe and Manchester collective, Sirocco. Such projects have cemented her reputation as a musician who thrives in boundary-pushing environments.

Beyond the concert stage, Ruth is a passionate advocate for her instrument and its repertoire. Her three-part BBC Radio 4 series, The Unsung Hero, brought the viola’s rich history and unique voice to wider audiences.

Now a dedicated educator, Ruth teaches viola at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she inspires young musicians with her experience and expertise. Her career continues to demonstrate the viola’s versatility and beauty, bringing its sound to life in ways that captivate audiences around the world.

Leading Irish pianist Fiachra Garvey is possessed of a maturity and profound understanding of his art, which when combined with his infectious enthusiasm for music-making, has already captivated audiences in concert halls across Europe and beyond.

1st prizewinner at the prestigious Jaques Samuel Competition (2012), London, Fiachra made his Fazioli Auditorium (Italy) and Wigmore Hall debuts in 2013. Other notable international competition successes including prizes at AXA Dublin International Piano Competition (Brennan Prize and McCullough Bursary), EU Piano Competition Prague (concerto finalist), 3rd Soirees-Concours Internationales de Piano a Collioure, France (Audience award) and Feis Ceoil Dublin (Morris Grant Bursary and Mabel Swainson award). The National Concert Hall Dublin awarded Fiachra the coveted “Rising Star” prize in 2011, which led to a number of solo and concerto debuts.

Fiachra graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, London in 2013 with 1st class honours and distinction in the M.A. in Music Performance. This follows a 1st class honours B.A. in Music Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2011 and a 1st class honours DipMus (performance and teaching) from the RIAM in 2008.

Concerto appearances include the Janáček Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, Cambridge University Symphony Orchestra, RIAM Symphony Orchestra, Hibernian Orchestra and UCD Symphony Orchestra; working with eminent conductors including John Wilson, Duncan Ward, Ruth Reinhardt, Theodore Kuchar, Stephen Bell and Mihhail Gerts.

Recent highlights include Google Dublin (first classical artist to be invited), Spoleto Italy, Wigmore Hall, Bridgewater Hall Manchester, NCH Dublin, Snape Maltings Aldeburgh, Petworth Festival, New Ross Piano Festival, St Martin in the Fields, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Brighton Festival, Geneva Festival Switzerland, West Cork Music, St Magnus Festival Orkney, Wexford Opera House, Ortús Chamber Music Festival, Killaloe Chamber Music Festival, Drogheda Classical Music, Clifden Arts Festival, a series of solo and two piano recitals in Japan and a tour of China.

Fiachra’s debut CD “For the Piano”, under the Lyric FM label, was released in 2012:“brings a deep and infectious enthusiasm, combined with insight and technical comfort.” (Sunday times). His second cd, a live performance from Wigmore Hall was released in 2014.

Fiachra is the founder and artistic director of the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival (Ireland) described as“One of the best classical music festival in Europe” (BBC Music Magazine) and Classical Vauxhall (London) described as“Everything the classical concert in the 21st Century should be” (iNews) .

Fiachra was awarded an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, London(ARAM) in 2018, served on the Board of Directors of the Dublin International Piano Competition from 2016- 2022 and was made a Feeman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 2021 and a Freeman of the City of London in 2022.

When not performing, Fiachra loves nothing more than returning home to help on the family farm with the yearly lambing, dipping, shearing, harvesting and all the other elegant and refined activities on the farm! Fiachra feels this makes him a more inspired and fulfilled musician.

Fiachra's website