On Tuesday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Macky Auditorium, legendary pianist Leon Fleisher joins the distinguished Irish Chamber Orchestra in a program featuring works by Haydn, Prokofiev, and Beethoven with a new work by Mícheál Ó Suilleabháin to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11 featuring Pádraic Keane on Uilleann Pipes. Tickets start at $12. For more information, call 303-492-8008 or visit www.cupresents.org.     

The Irish Chamber Orchestra has gained a remarkable reputation as a fresh and vibrant force on the Irish and international music scene. Under the dynamic and charismatic leadership of artistic director Anthony Marwood, the Orchestra is recognized as one of Ireland's world-class cultural assets. Excelling in repertoire ranging from the baroque and classical, through the romanticism of Tchaikovsky and Elgar, to modern-day masterpieces by Philip Glass and commissions by Irish composers such as Elaine Agnew, Rachel Holstead, Raymond Deane, John Kinsella, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and Bill Whelan, the ICO undertakes a busy programme of subscription series in its hometown of Limerick and other major cities, regional tours to every corner of the country and international appearances in the world's distinguished concert halls such as Carnegie Hall in New York, London's Wigmore Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.  

Debuting with the New York Philharmonic in 1944, Leon Fleisher quickly established himself as one of the world's premier classical pianists, concertizing with every major orchestra and making numerous touchstone recordings. At the height of his career, he was suddenly struck silent at age 36 with a neurological affliction known as focal dystonia, rendering two fingers on his right hand immobile. In the nearly 40 years since Leon Fleisher's keyboard career was so suddenly curtailed, he has followed two parallel careers - as conductor and teacher - while learning the extraordinary but limited repertoire for piano left-hand. Experimental treatments eventually restored the mobility in Fleisher's hand, and for several years he has played with both hands, winning enormous acclaim for his 2004 'two-hand' recording aptly titled Two Hands. The first American to win the prestigious Queen Elisabeth of Belgium competition (1952), Fleisher now holds numerous honors including the Johns Hopkins University President's Medal and honorary doctorates from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Amherst College, Boston Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Juilliard School of Music and Peabody Institute.