Feargus Hetherington

Tonight at Mackintosh Queen's Cross as part of the Creative Mackintosh Festival we had the second of our recital series organised by Feargus Hetherington.

Frankfurt-based pianist, Gavin Brady, joined Feargus Hetherington in two colourful masterpieces for violin and piano.

Debussy's Violin Sonata was to be his final work, and one of his most exotic and lyrical. Brahms completed three Violin Sonatas in his career - the last, in D minor possessing gripping drama and tender songfulness. Tonight we saw stunning performances by Feargus and Gavin in a beautiful setting.

Feargus studied at the RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and the Cleveland Institute of Music, USA, and has worked with some of today’s great performers such as Joseph Swensen, James Buswell, Elizabeth Layton, Ilya Kaler, David Russell, Donnie Deacon, violist Roger Chase and the Lindsay, Endellion and Cleveland Quartet violinists Peter Cropper, Andrew Watkinson and Peter Salaff, as well as violists Catharine Marwood and Michael Beeston. As a young artist, he benefited from the inspiration of some great artist/teachers – Angela Gray, Angus Ramsay and Jerre Gibson.

Feargus has gained significant experience performing freelance with world-renowned ensembles including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. His gifts as a soloist were noted early on, when, prior to graduation, he performed Brahms with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, and was the recipient of awards including the John Ireland Duo Prize, with pianist Gavin Brady.

Feargus plays on violins by Neil Kristóf Értz, made in 2001 and 2007 after Stradivari c.1720s, in ‘modern’ and ‘classical’ set-ups, and a viola by Jan Shelley. His bows are by Andreas Grütter (classical), Howard Green and John Stagg. He has been featured in the Strad magazine (July 2014) discussing his instruments.

Our concert series continues on Sunday with Bel Canto, the Edinburgh-based, 12-voice a cappella group.