Music becomes our lives
when it embodies our society.
REMINISCENCE
Revisiting echoes of moments past, painting memories in hues of the heart's gallery.
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Each piece in this concert program resonates with distinct artistic prowess, offering a multifaceted journey through ancient chants, classical elegance, inventive reinterpretation, and the vibrant energy of modern jazz, echoing the theme of 'reminiscence.’
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Ottorino Respighi – Three Preludes on Gregorian Melodies, No. 1
Chopin - ‘La ci darem la mano’
Friedrich Kalkbrenner – 5 variations on Chopin’s Mazurka in B flat major, Op. 120
Liszt - ‘Sarabande and Chaconne after Handel’s Almira’
Fazil Say – Paganini Variations in the style of modern jazz for piano
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Ottorino Respighi, renowned for his orchestral prowess and emotive musical landscapes, delves into ancient musical motifs in his "Three Preludes on Gregorian Melodies." The opening prelude, drawn from the timeless fabric of Gregorian chants, tells the poignant tale of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fleeing to Egypt to safeguard the young Jesus from King Herod’s looming threat. Respighi masterfully weaves these ancient melodies into a contemporary tapestry, preserving their haunting allure while infusing them with a modern harmonic language. With a masterful stroke, Respighi doesn't merely honor these sacred chants; he rejuvenates them, beckoning listeners on a contemplative voyage that unites the ancient with the present. The piece unfolds as a mesmerizing blend of homage and innovation, evoking a spiritual reflection within a modern musical landscape. It invites listeners on a contemplative voyage that unites the ancient with the present time.
Franz Schubert’s "Impromptu in B flat major," affectionately known as "Rosamunde," stands as a testament to his lyrical brilliance. While the nickname "Rosamunde" emerged posthumously, it echoes a theme from his incidental music for the play "Rosamunde, Princess of Cyprus." As part of his Op. 142 set, this piece resonates with a serene yet bittersweet beauty. Schubert intricately weaves emotive melodies throughout the Impromptu, each phrase unfolding with grace and tenderness. Captivating audiences with its seamless fusion of elegance and poignant sentiment, the "Rosamunde" Impromptu showcases Schubert’s genius in evoking profound emotions within a concise musical form.
Friedrich Kalkbrenner, celebrated for his virtuosity and innovative compositions during the Romantic era, crafted "5 Variations, Op. 120" as an ode to Frédéric Chopin’s Mazurka in B flat major. Their musical paths intersected during Kalkbrenner's instruction of Chopin in Paris, providing an intriguing link between these influential composers. Each variation unveils Kalkbrenner's imaginative touch, reimagining Chopin’s material with technical brilliance and expressive depth, paying homage to Chopin’s original while showcasing Kalkbrenner’s finesse in elaborating upon this cherished musical theme.
Fazil Say - Paganini Jazz Variations
Inspired by Paganini's timeless melody, Say infuses them with the vibrant essence of jazz, inviting listeners into an exhilarating dialogue between classical virtuosity and the spontaneous energy of jazz improvisation. Through this ingenious synthesis, Say unveils his prowess as both a classical interpreter and a trailblazing contemporary artist, breathing fresh vitality into Paganini's compositions while paying homage to the enduring legacy of jazz.
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April 21st, 2024
Philadelphia, PA
June 9th, 2024
Lakeland, FL
Louis Moreau Gottschalk
The inaugural American virtuoso who, like a musical envoy, introduced the distinctive echoes of the New World to the Old.
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A Creole composer, Gottschalk gained the first international recognition as an American. His unlimited creativity in music explains his fame during his lifetime. In his music, you can hear the sonorities of Creole, Carribean countries, Central Europe, plus his concern for society as a kind human being.
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Le Bananier Op. 5
Bamboula Op. 2
Souvenirs d’andalousie Op. 22
L’etincelle Op. 20
The Souvenir Puerto Rico Op. 31
The Union Op. 48
The Dying Poet Op. 110
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Watch Souvenir de Puerto Rico
Watch The Union
CHI-town
Multimedia Cultural Experience of Chicago
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This multimedia project features piano solo works written by seven Chicago-based composers from the 1900s to the present day, in an approachable concert setting. Video images of Chicago from the past 120 years will be paried with a live performance of piano compositions from the same time period, bringing audience members on a multi-media journey through Chicago’s history.
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Florence Price - Snapshots
Betty Jackson King - Four Seasonal Sketches
Carter Pann - The Bills for piano No. 2 ‘William Bolcom’
Augusta Read Thomas - Eurythmy Etude ‘Still Life’
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April 2nd, 2023
Northbrook, IL
What the Silence Knew…
The program holds together like a lived journey — moving through wonder, reflection, and urgency, its voice shifting as life itself does.
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Texu Kim Estrella (2025)
Charles-Valentin Alkan – Aesop from 12 Études in All the Minor Keys, Op. 39
Valentin Silvestrov – Three Bagatelles, Op. 1
Franz Liszt – Sonata in B Minor, S. 178
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April 19, 2026 Tri-County Concert
May 9th, 2026 Friday Musicale
NOCTURNAL JOURNEY
Nocturnal Journey explores the hidden inner worlds of night — a time that seems still on the surface yet brims with unknown movement, memory, and imagination. Through reflective repertoire and commissioned animation, the program opens a space shaped by voices like Rilke and Virginia Woolf.
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Edvard Grieg – Nocturne, Op. 54 No. 4 (Lyric Pieces, Book V, 1891)
Ignacy Jan Paderewski – Nocturne in B-flat major, Op. 16 No. 4 (1888)
Giuseppe Martucci – Notturno, Op. 70 No. 1 (1891)
Claude Debussy – Children’s Corner, L. 113 (1908)
Claude Debussy – Nocturnes, L. 91 (1892)
Alexander Scriabin – Nocturne for the Left Hand in D-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 (1894)
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An animation-curated concert that unfolds as a single night’s journey, inviting you to reflect on the hidden meanings of night — intimate, personal, and uniquely your own.
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December 13th, 2024
Orlando, FL