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Irish Alphas celebrate 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth; composer probably had Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
John Walsh of the US Alpha-1 Foundation will be the guest speaker when the Alpha One Foundation of Ireland presents its annual Chopin Anniversary Recital Nov. 12.
2010 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederic Chopin, the great Polish classical music composer who spent much of his life in France. Chopin, still among the most popular classical composers, suffered from chronic respiratory disease and researchers have long suspected he had Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
Frederic Chopin had chronic respiratory disease and died at age 39.
Internationally known pianist Lance Coburn will present the concert at at the home of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Gerry Breen. The French, Polish and American ambassadors are among the distinguished guests invited to attend.
The program will mostly be of the works of Chopin but will include selected pieces from several other composers. The concert will be an awareness and fundraising activity for respiratory research.
Kitty O’Connor, CEO of the Alpha One Foundation of Ireland, and Prof N.G. McElvaney, chairman, will host.
The Alpha-1 Foundation has funded 10 different Alpha-1 research projects in Ireland, with the grant awards totaling nearly $900,000.
