Kildare festival gifts legendary pianist portrait
Desmond Egan with Hans Palsson Photo: Jimmy Fullam
IT was a special moment.
Legendary Swedish pianist Hans Palsson had just finished performing another stunning piano recital during The Gerard Manley Hopkins Festival in Newbridge College.
He had received several standing ovations from an overflow crowd when the president of the society, Seán Bagnall, stepped forward to unveil a large portrait of the legendary pianist and went on to present it to the clearly amazed performer on behalf of the Committee of the Hopkins Society.
The large (4 feet/ c.1.2 cm square) oil painting was the work of English portrait artist Beth Stephens.
It shows in realistic detail the pianist beside his favourite Steinway piano and will be shipped out to Malmo in Sweden, where Mr Palsson lives.
Eventually, with a brass plaque commemorating the link, it will go to the National Concert Hall of Sweden, in Stockholm, where this unique cultural link between Ireland and Sweden will stand as a reminder of the unforgettable performances of Hans Palsson for the Gerard Manley Hopkins Society based in Newbridge College.
Clearly emotional, Palsson described it as a great honour and one of the privileges of his life. The packed audience rose again in prolonged applause for one of the great pianists of our time.
