My last recital at Jacksonville University was to accompany a silent film. I had chosen “The Lost World,” the original dinosaur thriller way before Jurassic Park hit bookshelves and theaters. The performance took place in Terry Concert Hall on February 2, 2025 - exactly 100 years to the day of the film's original premiere! I had curated music from a variety of composers, primarily Gaston Borch who had composed more than a hundred pieces of music for specific silent film use. I had no idea it would be my…
Read moreHoward Hanson's Piano Concerto
The newest addition to my repertoire. Playing it for the first time Saturday October 25 with the incredible Brevard Symphony Orchestra (brevardsymphony.com) and their conductor, my friend, Christopher Confessore. While doing some research on the concerto, and Hanson, I discovered that the composer himself played it once - and only once - with The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra on July 23, 1950. A review of the performance, written by David Holden on July 26, says that "Mr. Hanson played the piano part…
Read morePlaying Chopin's Waltzes, in the order Dinu Lipatti attempted at his last recital in 1950
After considerable thought, I've decided to make a change to my program for recitals in March, April, and May. I had originaly wanted to honor the great Romanian pianist Dinu Lipatti, who was my teacher's (Bela Siki) teacher. I learned much about Mr. Lipatti from Mr. Siki, and so, to honor them both, and especially to pay tribute to Dinu Lipatti on the 60th anniversary of his last performance, I am playing all fourteen Waltzes of Chopin (to celebrate the composer's 200th birthday) - in the order that Mr…
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