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The Belfast born concert pianist is 50 this Friday.ÌýWhen we spoke a few days agoÌýfor Sounds Classical, he was just relieved that he had made it across the Channel. He had taken theÌýtrain fromÌýhis Paris home earlier that day, missing the chaos in the sky, or rather the airports, due to the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland. So his concert in London's Barbican last night wasn'tÌýaffected.

But this Tuesday the much anticipated visit to Belfast by the brilliant young American violinist with the Ulster Orchestra has been affected. She can't make it across from her New York home.ÌýThe is going ahead though. Tai isÌýjust one of many musiciansÌýgrounded around the globe.Ìý

Finnish pianist Leif Ove Andsnes couldn't get toÌýBarcelona to play Rach 4 with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra last night. Thankfully he shares anÌýagent withÌýthe Russian pianist Nikolai Demindenko, no stranger to Belfast audiences, having played here with the Ulster OrchestraÌývery recently. She gotÌýhim on the Eurostar.ÌýThe only thing is he hadÌýto stand from London to Paris.Ìý

I hopeÌýWhitney Houston got a seat on the car ferry from Liverpool to Dublin at the weekend. Apparently the legendary diva made sure the show went on and her and entourage boarded a stenaline.

Anyhow, birthday wishes to Barry.ÌýHe's got a not so secret celebration in Paris this Friday. ApparentlyÌýthe restaurant emailed him to confirmÌýnumbers!!! I hope the fifty candles on his cake don't put any more ash into the atmosphere!Ìý