The Cat and the Fiddle: Gifted Irish violinist to join Vengerov in National Concert Hall

WHEN the celebrated Russian violinist, Maxim Vengerov returns to the National Concert Hall in March, he’ll have company. Pairing with him in Bach’s double violin concerto will be a gifted young man from Kilkenny.

From a musical family, Patrick Rafter is one of Ireland’s rising classical music stars. His father, also Patrick, is a tenor; and his mother Maura, is a piano teacher who founded the Kilkenny Academy of Music.