World-class musicians coming to Birr for night of Celtic soul

BIRR THEATRE will welcome back one of its own on Friday, 13th February (8pm), when internationally renowned flautist Karin Leitner returns to the stage she knows so well, joined by harpist Rosanna Moore.
Karin grew up in Vienna, and for many years she has also considered Birr to be her home. She has lived here, made lifelong friendships here, and composed some beautiful music in the town. Works such as Celtic Airs & Graces were written during her time in Birr, inspired by the landscape, the people, and the quiet space the town offers for creativity. “I love Birr,” she says, “and I am so happy to be coming back.”
She points out that Birr audiences have always had a keen ear for quality. “Birr is a town that understands craft, patience and authenticity,” she says, “whether in engineering, music, or community life, and this concert will reflect those same values.
“Because of the strong connection I have with Birr people and the sense of it being a homecoming, this is going to be a very special concert for me.”
Karin has been a professional musician for many years and she has garnered many plaudits during that time. She is a musician who enjoys both light-hearted material as well as deeper, more spiritual pieces. She is also happy to branch out beyond the parameters of classical music repertoire.
Being a classical musician it was very fortunate for Karin that she was born and grew up in Vienna, because it has a justified reputation as being “the Capital of Classical Music.” Vienna is also known as “the City of Music” and “the City of Dreams.” As well as Vienna and Birr she has also lived in London. Karin says she feels a very strong affiliation with the Irish spirit. She points out that her time living in Birr represented and continues to represent a deeply felt part of her story, so much so that she refers to herself as being “Irish in soul”.
Karin points out that from the world’s great stages to smaller, more intimate venues, she has always believed in the democratic qualities of music, no matter its genre. “I have always believed that music belongs first and foremost to all of the people, irrespective of their background, and not just for a select few.”
Her career reads like a roll call of excellence: the Vienna State Opera Stage Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra London, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, London West End productions such as Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables, and the Irish Chamber Orchestra. She has performed live for figures such as Kevin Spacey and Christoph Waltz, was Composer in Residence in Tehran, and received a United Nations award for playing in Nepal during the civil war — using music as a bridge where words could not go. In January, she played Irish tin whistles as a soloist with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in Vienna’s biggest hall, conducted by Patrick Doyle (the Scottish composer of the film music for Harry Potter, Merida, Sense & Sensibility).
Karin is also known for her generosity of spirit and creative independence.
She has composed extensively for flute, harp and orchestra, released four self-composed CDs to critical acclaim in Irish music magazines, and produced a series of wellbeing and relaxation recordings tuned to 432 Hertz. Her YouTube channel has amassed over 36 million views, a testament to her ability to reach people across borders and backgrounds. Her own works, Celtic Airs & Graces, will be performed during the February 13th concert, blending classical form with Irish feeling — something Birr audiences instinctively appreciate.
Joining her is Rosanna Moore (below), a harpist whose career is rising rapidly on the international stage. Known for her quirky, engaging presence and fearless musicianship, Rosanna has won accolades at the World Harp Festival and major international competitions, and has recently been recognised with an O1B visa, marking her as an artist of extraordinary ability.

The programme in Birr Theatre, called “The French Works”, will be rich and varied, featuring highlights like Debussy’s Clair de Lune, and virtuosic harp solos such as Grandjany’s Rhapsodie. The evening will move effortlessly between intimacy and sparkle, reflection and joy.
For Birr, this concert will be more than a recital. It is a meeting of worlds — international excellence grounded in local understanding. It will reflect a town that knows its worth, values culture, and welcomes artists not as distant stars, but as friends.
Tickets are expected to be in strong demand, and this promises to be one of the musical highlights of the winter season at Birr Theatre.

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