We are thrilled to be taking part in this year’s No Limits Festival with a digital concert starring Nicholas McCarthy and our very own Gábor Takács-Nagy.

First launched in 2019 and co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, No Limits aims to create a barrier-free environment and explore and promote inclusiveness and understanding through the arts.

Nicholas McCarthy is truly a wonder. Being born without a right hand has not prevented him from making a career as a professional musician. He only started playing piano at the age of 14 and overcame doubters and negativity to become the first left-hand-only pianist to graduate from London’s prestigious Royal College of Music.

The recital, specially filmed for No Limits, will feature two pieces by Ravel—Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major and Le Tombeau de Couperin—as well as Benjamin Britten’s Diversions for Piano (left hand) and Orchestra, Op 21. Performing these has been a long-held dream for Nicholas; it comes around 90 years since his hero Paul Wittgenstein overcame a similar disability to play the Ravel concerto, and it also marks over 70 years since Wittgenstein performed it and Britten’s Diversions together at the Proms in London in 1951.

Having already thrilled Hong Kong audiences at No Limits last year, when he also gave masterclasses to budding young Hong Kong musicians, Nicholas McCarthy’s recital is certain to be one of the highlights of this year’s programme.

This is a fantastic opportunity to hear a great musician playing alongside a world-class orchestra in a free online performance.

Photo: Paul Marc Mitchell