Go Inside the Music: American Composer Charles Ives
Image presentation by Oliver Prezant & piano performance by Emanuele Arciuli
6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Join conductor and educator Oliver Prezant for an engaging pre-concert talk on Charles Ives' rarely performed Piano Sonata No. 2, Concord, Mass. 1840–1860. First published in 1920, this epic work for solo piano juxtaposes modernist musical gestures with quotes from the music of Beethoven, folk and popular music, hymn tunes, and more. It’s an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink effort to create a musical impression of the transcendentalist philosophy of Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, and the Alcotts in mid-nineteenth century Massachusetts. Given the scope of the work, it’s no surprise that Ives continued to work on the piece for almost forty years. Whether you’re an experienced listener or new to the concert hall, the talk will take you inside the music and the mind of the composer, and help you to deepen your understanding and enjoyment of this extraordinary American masterpiece.
Emanuele Arciuli has established himself as one of the most original and interesting performers on today's classical music scene. His repertoire ranges from Bach to contemporary music, with a strong affinity for composers from the United States. He is a professor at the Conservatory in Bari, Italy and a frequent guest professor at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and other American universities. His numerous recordings include the complete piano works of Berg and Webern, and the world premiere of Bruno Maderna's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. His CD dedicated to George Crumb (Bridge) was nominated for a Grammy Award, and his CD with works by Adams and Rzewski (Stradivarius) received the Italian critics' award for Best Record in 2006. His newest comprehensive book on American piano music, Musica per pianoforte negli Stati Uniti, was recently published in Italy. In May 2011, Emanuele was awarded the most important Italian critic's prize, the Premio Franco Abbiati.