Sir James and Lady Galway

Tuesday, October 9, 2018 – 7:30 PM

The “Living Legend of the Flute,” Sir James Galway is regarded as both the supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and a consummate entertainer whose appeal crosses all musical boundaries. Sir James has made himself a modern musical master, whose virtuosity on the flute is equaled only by his limitless ambitions and vision. This is an artist who rose from working-class Belfast roots to the upper echelon of the flute world by landing jobs in the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, eventually winning the principal flute chair in the Berlin Philharmonic, one of the world’s great ensembles, when he was 29 years old. Very few musicians would walk away from so lofty a position, but Galway isn’t just any musician, and he left that orchestra after only six years. Even that august position proved to be an insufficient showcase for the eclecticism and showmanship that have made him one of the top instrumental artists in the world. Sir James sits in a unique position in popular and musical culture. He's not only the most famous living flutist, he may be the best-known flutist to have ever lived. Since launching his successful career as a soloist in 1975, his busy touring schedule sees him performing with the world’s leading orchestras and most prestigious conductors. From Galway’s lips have come definitive treatments of classical repertoire and masterworks by Bach, Vivaldi and Mozart. He also features contemporary music in his programs, including new flute works commissioned by him and for him by composers such as Adamo, Amram, Bolcom, Corigliano, Heath, Lieberman and Maazel. Through his extensive touring, over 30 million albums sold and his frequent international television appearances, Sir James has endeared himself to millions worldwide and is a tireless promoter of the arts and education. The Galway Flute Academy is Sir James and Lady Galway’s educational platform, where they share their wisdom and experience with the musical generation of today and tomorrow. A discography of over 70 CD’s with Sony BMG Classics and Deutsche Grammophon ranging from the great classics such as Mozart & Bach, his legendary performance on the sound track of Lord of the Rings - Return of the King, and his recording of "O’Reilly Street" with the Cuban timba group, Tiempo Libre, reflects his mastery of musical diversity.

Lady Jeanne Galway, who is also an accomplished flutist, will also perform. She continues to grace the international platforms with her virtuosity and charm. One of the leading female flute soloists of the decade, Lady Galway brings to the audience her unique style and elegance. Appearing regularly as the premiere flute duo partner with her husband Sir James Galway, the two delight audiences and bring a rare freshness to the platform, unique in the music world. In addition to her highly successful career as a soloist, Lady Galway is also an accomplished chamber musician, touring regularly with various chamber ensembles.

– Select programming is made possible in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which receives
support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.