(Pittsburgh). . .Beethoven’s “Hammerklavier,” widely acknowledged as the ultimate test of a pianist’s skills, is rarely performed in public.
David Allen Wehr, the Hillman Distinguished Piano Chair at Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music, will perform the “Hammerklavier” on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 3 p.m. in the music school’s PNC Recital Hall. A pre-concert discussion will take place at 2:15 p.m.
“The Hammerklavier is the 800-pound gorilla of piano sonatas,” Wehr remarked. “It has a reputation of being almost unplayable. Beethoven wrote what he wanted without any regard to the difficulty of playing.”
When Wehr’s recording of the Hammerklavier was released in 1999, the American Record Guide called the performance “as good as Solomon’s, Claude Frank’s and Wilhelm Kempff’s…. If you care about the Beethoven piano sonatas, don’t miss this.”
Wehr, who began playing Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas in chronological order in fall 2002, will conclude the Complete Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle with a final concert on April 18.
The complete schedule of music events at Duquesne University in spring 2004 follows:
Saturday, January 24
A Musical Tribute to Matthew “Matty” Shiner
Featuring alumni and student brass ensembles
With world premieres by Samuel Hazo, Jr. and Joseph Willcox Jenkins
Reserved seating for dinner: $35
Suggested donation for concert: $10
Please call: 412.396.6080
Wednesday, February 4
Duquesne University Jazz Ensembles
Michael Tomaro and John Wilson, directors
8:00 p.m./Student Union Ballroom
Suggested Donation: $10
Sunday, February 15
The Complete Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle, Program VII
David Allen Wehr, Hillman Distinguished Piano Chair
3:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Pre-concert Discussion: “The Hammerklavier,”
Mrs. Jessica Wiskus Aranovich, Mary Pappert School of Music
2:15 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Friday, February 20
Duquesne University Wind Symphony and Symphony Band
Robert C. Cameron, conductor
8:00 p.m./Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland
Suggested Donation: $10
Saturday, February 21
Duquesne University Chamber Singers and Concert Choir
Rebecca Rollett, conductor
8:15 p.m./Duquesne Chapel
Suggested Donation: $10
Sunday, February 22
Duquesne University Symphony Orchestra
Sidney Harth, music director
Duquesne University Jazz Ensembles, guest artists
Works by Dvorak, Libermann and Bruckner
8:00 p.m./Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland
Suggested Donation: $10
Friday, February 27
Faculty Recital — Misha Quint, cello
8:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Saturday, February 28
Duquesne University Jazz Ensembles at Pittsburgh Jazz Society Winter JazzFest
Michael Tomaro and John Wilson, directors
All Day/Grand Ballroom, Holiday Inn Select, Oakland
Sunday, February 29
Faculty Recital — Inessa Beylin, piano
Guest artist, Charlene Canty, soprano
6:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Thursday, March 4
Duquesne Contemporary Ensemble
David Stock, conductor
8:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Saturday, March 20
Faculty Recital — Guenko Guechev, voice
Inessa Beylin, piano
8:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Sunday, March 21
Double Piano Faculty Recital — Natasha Snitkovsky & David Allen Wehr
3:00 p.m./ PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Sunday, March 28
Duquesne University Symphony Orchestra
Sidney Harth, music director
Works by Brahms, Rorem, Balada and Strauss
8:00 p.m./Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland
Suggested Donation: $10
Saturday, April 3
Faculty Recital — Steve Pollock, saxophone
8:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Sunday, April 4
“Mid-America Productions Concert Series”
Duquesne University Wind Symphony
Robert C. Cameron, conductor
Carnegie Hall, New York City
Monday, April 5
Faculty Recital — Rachel Purkin, violin
David Allen Wehr, piano
8:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Tuesday, April 13
Duquesne University Jazz Guitar Ensemble
Bill Purse, director; Mark Koch and Ken Karsh, associate directors
8:00 p.m./Room 322
Free Admission
Wednesday, April 14
Duquesne University Classical Guitar Ensemble
Tom Kikta, director
8:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Free Admission
Thursday, April 15
Duquesne Contemporary Ensemble
David Stock, conductor
8:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Saturday, April 17
Duquesne University Chamber Singers and Concert Choir
Rebecca Rollett, conductor
8:15 p.m./Duquesne Chapel
Suggested Donation: $10
Sunday, April 18
Duquesne University Jazz Ensembles
Michael Tomaro and John Wilson, directors
7-11 p.m./Foster's, Oakland
Free Admission
Sunday, April 18
The Complete Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle, Program VIII
Featuring David Allen Wehr, Hillman Distinguished Piano Chair
3:00 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Suggested Donation: $10
Pre-concert Discussion: “Beethoven’s Hat Trick”
Dr. Joseph Willcox Jenkins, Professor Emeritus, Mary Pappert School of Music
2:15 p.m./PNC Recital Hall
Tuesday, April 20
Duquesne University Wind Symphony and Symphony Band
Robert C. Cameron, conductor
8:00 p.m./Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland
Suggested Donation: $10
Thursday, April 22
Duquesne University Jazz Ensembles
Guest soloist Jim Pugh, trombone
Michael Tomaro and John Wilson, directors
8:00 p.m./Manchester Craftsmen Guild
Suggested Donation: $10
Friday, April 23 & Sunday, April 25
Duquesne University Opera Workshop
Guencko Guechev, director
The Telephone and The Medium with the Duquesne University Symphony Orchestra
Friday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m./Carnegie Music Hall, Homestead
Suggested Donation: $10
Monday, April 26
Duquesne University Percussion Ensemble
Andrew Reamer, conductor
8:00 p.m./Room 322
Free Admission
All dates and performers are subject to change. For more information, call the music school events line at 412-396-4632. |
