by Brian O'Donnell
 |
| Brian O'Donnell with James Galway |
The world-renowned flutist, James Galway was born in North Belfast, Ireland in 1939. The “man with the golden flute”(and very infectious laugh) , however, did not start out playing flute. The violin was his first instrument. Galway talks about that violin experience, searching for penny whistles, classical music in cartoons and movies as a child in Northern Ireland
In 1969, Galway began as principal flute in the Berlin Philharmonic after an audition process which didn’t sit well with him at all. Galway doesn’t skirt around the issue…no sugar-coating here.
In July of 1990, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd put a concert together to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall. James Galway was invited to play on that mega-concert there in Berlin at the Wall, one of the only non-rock performers. He also says Queen Elizabeth really knows how to throw a party!
