ACCLAIMED PIANIST PETER SERKIN TO PERFORM AT MUHLENBERG COLLEGE
Pianist Peter Serkin will perform in Muhlenberg College's Paul C. Empie Theatre in the Baker Center for the Arts, Friday, March 1 at 8 p.m.Friday, February 15, 2002 10:34 AM
Pianist Peter Serkin will perform in Muhlenberg College's Paul C. Empie Theatre in the Baker Center for the Arts, Friday, March 1 at 8 p.m. A reception in the Galleria will follow the concert. Tickets are $15; $10 for students and senior citizens. For ticket information, call 484-664-3363.
All works on the program are composed by Beethoven and include Piano Sonata in E Major, Op. 109; Six Bagatelles for Piano, Op. 126; and Variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli, Op. 120.
Recognized as an artist of passion and integrity, American pianist Peter Serkin is one of the most thoughtful and individualistic musicians appearing before the public today. Throughout his career he has conveyed the essence of four centuries of musical repertoire, and his performances with symphony orchestras, recital appearances, chamber music collaborations and recordings are respected worldwide. Serkin, featured on the cover of the Piano Today (Winter 1997-98), is described by journalist Jessica Duchen as "one of today's most elusive and uncompromising pianists-a musician of profound intelligence who shuns commercialism and hype in favor of the tougher artistic challenges of Bach, Beethoven and contemporary music."
Ranging from Bach to Berio, Serkin's recordings reflect his distinctive musical vision. "The Ocean that has no West and no East," recently released by Koch Records, contains compositions by Webern, Wolpe, Messiaen, Takemitsu, Knussen, Lieberson and Wuorinen. In June 2000, BMG released a recording of Serkin performing three Beethoven sonatas.
Peter Serkin's rich musical heritage extends back several generations: his grandfather was violinist and composer Adolph Busch, and his father, pianist Rudolf Serkin. In 1958, at the age of eleven, Peter entered the Curtis Institute of Music and a year later made his debut at the Marlboro Music Festival. Since that time, he has performed with the world's major symphony orchestras and has played chamber music with Alexander Schneider, Yo-Yo Ma, Pamela Frank, the Budapest String Quartet, the Guarneri String Quartet, the Orion String Quartet and Tashi.
