Sir James Galway reigns worldwide as the essential flautist. Although the wooden flute he played as a youngster in Belfast has been replaced by instruments of gold, silver and platinum, the joyful spirit of Ireland prevails wherever he performs and shares amusing stories with the audience.
On Sunday the 2014 recipient of the Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award returns to the Kennedy Center under the auspices of the Washington Performing Arts Society, which first presented him in recital to an enraptured District audience in 1977.
Every program he plans is a feast for the ears, with Sunday’s featuring “Carnival of Venice” by Briccialdi and Chaminade’s “Concertino” to Francois Borne’s toe-tapping “Carmen Fantasie” and the sparkling “Rigoletto Fantasy” for two flutes by Franz Doppler and Karl Doppler.
“When I saw early in my career that the great violinist Fritz Kreisler and many opera singers were attracting larger audiences by doing crossover, I decided that was the way to go,” Mr. Galway said. As a result, his musical adventures are as comfortable in Grieg’s rural Norway as in Henry Mancini’s fanciful world of “The Pink Panther.”
Mr. Galway will be joined on stage by his wife, flautist Lady Jeanne Galway, and pianist Phillip Moll, with whom he has collaborated frequently for many years.
“Phillip and I met in Berlin when I was getting ready to make my first crossover recording,” he said. “He coached me and prepared me to get everything done in two takes. Most recordings are done with more, but because I was starting out, we were limited to two. When I looked back at it, I noticed a couple of split notes, but nobody else did. Phillip and I work well on and off stage because he is always going forward with musical ideas.”
Mr. Galway and Mrs. Galway devote considerable time to working with young musicians. It is not surprising that many of the students who attend his masterclasses have gone on to professional careers, and he often finds himself on stage with them as he plays with orchestras around the world.
“Denis Bouriakov first played for me at age 12,” he said. “When he was 18, I sent him to study with the famous flautist William Bennett in England.”
Mr. Bouriakov eventually became principal flute of the Metropolitan Opera in 2009 and most recently principal flute of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Mr. Galway emphasizes that one highlight of Sunday’s concert is the performance of flute students from Peabody Conservatory, part of the Galway Community Outreach Program.
“They will join us on stage with another big surprise,” he said.
Chuckling, he explained: “I sent word that all kids coming to the concert should bring their flutes, so we expect a huge crowd of aspiring musicians playing along. That will be fun.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Washington Performing Arts Society presents Sir James Galway, flute, in concert; joined by Lady Jeanne Galway, flute; Phillip Moll, piano
WHERE: Kennedy Center Concert Hall, 2700 F St NW, Washington, D.C. 20566
WHEN: Sunday, 4 p.m.
INFO: Tickets start at $30, available at WashingtonPerformingArts.org or by calling 202/785-9727
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