Master flutists Sir James Galway and Lady Jeanne Galway perform together for ArtsPass and delight viewers with their talent, witty repartee, and their individual journeys and joint successes on the world's most famous concert stages. WATCH THE INTERVIEW AND PERFORMANCE NOW! Sir James Galway is widely regarded as both a supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and a consummate entertainer whose appeal crosses all musical boundaries. As the most televised and recorded classical artist performing today, Sir James has made himself a legend. His wife, accomplished flutist Lady Jeanne Galway, has performed as a soloist with the world’s leading symphonies and orchestras while managing both her own career and James' career and touring as a member of the acclaimed chamber trio Zephyr. Sir James Galway tours extensively in the US, Asia and Europe. Highlights of his 2007 season include an U.S. recital and orchestral tour -- including selected guest appearances by Lady Galway -- which will travel to 20 cities including Phoenix, Santa Fe, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Boston and Washington, D.C. The season also includes performances and master classes in Salzburg, Austria; Interlaken, Switzerland; Dublin, Ireland; Trento, Italy, and London. This past fall, Sir James released My Magic Flute, distributed by Deutsche Grammophon. The album is a Mozart extravaganza recorded with the Sinfonia Varsovia and featuring Sir James, Lady Jeanne, and harpist Catrin Finch. The recording includes a new version of Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp, plus all-new arrangements of some of Mozart's most popular instrumental and vocal compositions. Sir James was invited to give a special performance at the White House in March, 2006. That spring also saw his completion of a 22 city U.S. tour performing as soloist and conductor with Lady Galway and the Polish Chamber Orchestra, as well as dates with the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of Chicago. In Europe, Galway has performed at the Musikverein in Vienna, the Salzburg Festival, the Royal Albert Hall in London, the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Windsor Castle, The Vatican, the National Concert Hall in Dublin, as well as in Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and Tawain. Sir James has played for such dignitaries as Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, President Clinton, Prince Charles, the Empress of Japan, the Queen of Norway, Princess Diana, the Earl and Duchess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Kent and shared the stage with an amazing array of entertainers including Stevie Wonder, Henry Mancini, John Denver, Elton John, the Chieftains, and Cleo Laine. He played with Pink Floyd in their memorable concert at the Berlin Wall, was part of the Nobel Peace concert in Norway, and performed at the G Seven conference hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace. Most recently, Sir James has taken up the baton, and in addition to playing/conducting engagements around the world, he holds the illustrious position of Principal Guest Conductor of the London Mozart Players. His album Ich war ein Berliner: James Galway and the Berlin Philharmonic was released by Deutsche Grammophon in February, 2006. The album pays homage to Sir James' time as Principal Flute of the Berlin Philharmonic. Wings of Song, Sir James' first release after signing a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon, immediately reached the number one spot on the classical charts after its release in August, 2004. Sir James also has a discography of over 60 CDs with BMG/RCA Classics reflecting his mastery of repertoire ranging from the traditional masters to Japanese and Irish folk, jazz and cinema music. Born in Belfast, Sir James began his career at the Sadlers Wells Opera and the Royal Opera Covent Garden, which led to positions with the BBC Symphony Orchestra where he played piccolo, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra where he was Principal Flute. In 1969, he was appointed Principal Flute of the Berlin Philharmonic. He is the author/editor of several flute books, including a series of performance editions of flute works by G. Schirmer and Theodore Presser. He recently published a critical essay on the Twelve Studies of Boehm op.15. He is also developing a new website, The Galway Network, devoted to advanced students and educators. Sir James supports various charities, in particular FARA, SOS and UNICEF, with which he holds the title of special representative. He and Lady Jeanne Galway are both patrons of Future Talent, a charity headed by the Duchess of Kent. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England has honored him twice: in 1979 with an Order of the British Empire and in 2001 with a Knighthood for services to music. Lady Jeanne Galway is an acclaimed solo flutist who recently appeared in Japan for a private performance in the presence of the Empress of Japan. She has also played before HRH Prince Edward at Buckingham Palace, with the London Mozart Players at St. James' Palace, and for the Queen of Norway with the Bergen Philharmonic. In May 2006, she performed at The Vatican and Windsor Castle. She is also a respected chamber musician. As a member of the music trio Zephyr (with pianist Jonathan Feldman and cellist Darrett Adkins), the group recorded and released Winds of Romance, featuring works by Haydn, Martinu and Weber. Zephyr recently premiered a new work by Lowell Liebermann, which Sir James had commissioned as a Christmas present for his wife. Lady Galway continues to collaborate in recital with Phillip Moll and a varied array of artists and ensembles, including guitarist Christian Hoffstettler, soprano Yuko Takemichi, and the New York based Cassatt String Quartet. Lady Galway's recording with Sir James and Phillip Moll, Music for My Friends, has received notable acclaim, as has her recording of the Cimarosa Concerto for Two Flutes with Sir James and the London Mozart Players. As Vice President of Flutewise, an educational organization for young flute players, she conducts Flutewise Master Classes, has recorded two flute tutor methods and released a new CD for Flutewise with Phillip Moll. Along with her husband, she serves as a patron to the charity Future Talent, headed by the Duchess of Kent. Lady Galway also writes many educational articles and is currently compiling a series of books to be published by Theodore Presser. Her versatile concert engagements include performances for fundraising events for UNICEF, SOS, FARA and Flutewise. A native of New York and graduate of the New York City's Mannes Collage of Music, Lady Galway lives with her husband, Sir James, in Meggen, Switzerland. She plays a 24- carat gold Muramatsu flute. The couple, who met in 1978 at a New York Philharmonic
Master class, formed a relationship based on a mutual love
of the flute. For their first date, the two went to the
opera and back to her apartment to play duets. They wed
six years later.
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