This concert will last about 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission.
Please silence your electronic devices.
Photography, video, or recording of any part of this performance is prohibited
Program
PART ONE
An Introduction to the character pieces for solo piano by Czech composer Vitezslav Novák
Vitezslav Novák 1870-1949
Songs of a Winter’s Night, op. 30 1903
III. Song of a Christmas Eve
My May, op. 20 1899
II. Presto leggiero
Four Serenades, op. 9 1895
I. Con moto, ma molto espressivo
II. Poco Andante, scherzando
III. Sostenuto mesto
IV. Andantino quasi Allegretto
Barcarolles, op. 10 1896
IV. Intime
Exotikon, op. 45 1911
I. Marcia (Motivo tartara)
II. In Primavera (Melodie chinoise)
Reminiscenses, op. 6 1894
III. Amoroso
intermission
PART TWO
J.S. Bach 1685-1750
arr. Gregory Allen
Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582
This version adheres to the original organ score as much as possible, producing a smaller soundscape but one with cleaner definition of contrapuntal detail and greater range of emotional expression. The presentation includes video recordings of the piece on both organ and harpsichord.
Texts
Serenades, Op. 9
I.
Wie Blättersäuseln, wie Blütenhauch,
Wie Windeswehen
Eilt leichtbeschwingt mein Abendlied zu dir…
II.
O süsse Frau, auf dem Balkone,
Erscheine endlich meinem Blick.
III.
Von meiner Lieb‘ darf ich nichts sagen,
Nicht meine Wang‘ an deine lehnen,
Im Liede nur darf ich dir klagen
Mein Liebesweh, mein heisses Sehnen.
IV.
Süsse Donna, mit Haaren schwarz wie Schatten,
Als fahrender Sänger irr‘ ich durch die Welt.
About the Artist
Gregory Allen
Gregory Allen, professor of piano at The University of Texas at Austin, was the Grand Prize winner of the 1980 Arthur Rubinstein Competition in Tel Aviv; he also won top honors at the Queen Elisabeth, Gina Bachauer and Washington International Competitions. He has appeared with numerous major orchestras and has adjudicated many prestigious competitions. Chamber music has always been a large part of professor Allen’s career. He has collaborated with a number of well-known String Quartets; as a founding member of the Chamber Soloists of Austin, he programmed the premieres of approximately 40 new works. The group was invited by the USIA to an extensive tour of South America in 1992. To commemorate the centennial of Arthur Rubinstein’s birth in 1987 Allen researched and recorded three albums of music written for and dedicated to Rubinstein. He also recorded the complete piano works of Joaquín Rodrigo, in collaboration Anton Nel, fellow professor of piano at the Butler School of Music. Recently Allen has completed new arrangements of both Brahms String Sextets for Piano Trio; and a transcription for solo piano of Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue for organ. Allen’s major teachers include John Perry, Jerome Lowenthal, and Leon Fleisher. He has served on the piano faculty at UT Austin since 1973.
Event Details
Free admission