The man with the golden flute
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2004-11-03 09:10

Despite the argument that local audiences always cringe when faced with new musicians presenting new works, this year's Sixth Shanghai International Arts Festival has provided local music lovers with the chance to meet some big names.

Last year it was Christoph Eschenbach and Andrea Bocelli. They have passed the musical relay baton this year to Sir James Galway, the man with the golden flute. Galway's upcoming Shanghai concert with the Munich Chamber Orchestra is part of his first tour of China (he will give another concert in Beijing next Wednesday). His dazzling virtuosity has been acclaimed by audiences worldwide and he now has won new fans for his starring role on the soundtrack of director Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning movie, "Lord of the Rings."

He is also one of the first flautists in the world to establish a career as a soloist. Galway has a rich cultural heritage to draw upon and possesses a strong will to pursue his own goals. While a youngster in his native Ireland, Galway started to learn the flute because his father owned one.

He studied with Muriel Dawn, who had a great influence on his career, before attending the Royal College of Music. His most famous teacher, however, was the late maestro, Geoffrey Gilbert, probably the most influential British flautist of the 20th century. When asked what he learned most from Gilbert, Galway answers with one word: "Discipline." "In tackling any problem in learning to play, Gilbert always emphasized 'attacking the problem in hand' before going on," says Galway. But Galway, in fact, went on to achieve great fame because of disobedience. As principal flautist with the Berlin Philharmonic under Herbert von Karajan from 1969 to 1975, Galway found he was always having arguments with the notoriously tough conductor. Their continuing disagreements finally made him decide to leave the orchestra and pursue a solo career - and the rest is history.

"You see, my real musical origins are German -- to have joined a great orchestra and worked with a great conductor. For me, the best time in my life was with Karajan and it inspired me to practise a lot more than I otherwise would have," says Galway who is now 65. His name is indelibly associated in the minds of music lovers with his instrument. In addition to his recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic, Galway has had a host of mega-hit albums. His repertoire ranges from Mozart to pop music and hits such as, "My Heart Will Go On" and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?"

His Shanghai concert with the Munich Chamber Orchestra, one of the best-known ensembles in Germany, will feature classical works including Mozart's "Andante in C Major for Flute and Orchestra" and "Flute Concerto in D Major" and Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings."

Date: November 5, 7:15pm

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 People's Ave

Tickets: 200-1,000 yuan

Tel: 6386-8686, 6272-0455