The Ulster Orchestra celebrates its 50^th Anniversary this year and is presenting fourteen subscription concerts and an additional ten in the Tuesday lunchtime series. Founded in 1966, the Orchestra has played a hugely important role in enriching the cultural lives of Northern Ireland’s residents through both their live concerts and radio or television broadcasts. They are also committed to educating future generations by offering free concert tickets to children and hosting workshops in some of Northern Ireland’s most deprived areas.

On the 30^th September, Barry will be joining them in the Ulster Hall, Belfast, where he will perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.1 within a programme of works by Beethoven, Rossini and Mozart.

A spokesperson for the orchestra told the Belfast Telegraph: “We are pulling out all the stops for our special golden anniversary with an outstanding programme of soloists and conductors – including our principal conductor Rafael Payare and Ulster’s greatest professional and award-winning pianist, Barry Douglas.’’

This exciting and memorable occasion is not to be missed, yet tickets have disappeared like “gold dust” to leave the concert long sold out! For those at home, the concert will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Ulster featuring an interview with Barry, and Barry will rejoin the orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in October and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in March 2017.

Read Barry’s thoughts on Tchaikovsky here, in the Irish News.