In the fourth and last concert of its widely acclaimed Accolade Concert Series for the 2004 season, Musica Reginae presents “Piano in the Grand Manner” with pianist Daniel Berman at Flushing Town Hall on Sunday, April 18 at 4 p.m. This will cont
Berman plays in the “grand manner.” He chooses unique programming that goes beyond the repertoire that one hears everyday in New York City concert halls. His brilliant technique is matched by an exquisite musical sensitivity.
This is the highest achievement of the art of the pianist. For this performance, Berman has selected “Carnaval” by Schumann, which is the “high noon” of the romantic piano works. He creates marvelous pictures in sound from the characters of the Commedia dell’arte to Chopin himself, closing the work with a march that only Schumann could write. This program brings Musica Reginae Chopin’s last, and perhaps best, word on the Polonaise: the “Polonaise-Fantasie.” It’s his final thought on this dance in his brief and tragic life.
Berman will also play Bolcom’s “Three Ghost Rags,” which are enticing and intriguing. He will end his program with Tausig’s paraphrase on Strauss’ “Man Lebt Nur Einmal (Man Lives Only Once),” a dazzling creation of one of Liszt’s greatest pupils. The host for the afternoon’s vocal recital is Maestro David Close, the artistic director of Musica Reginae.
Musica Reginae Productions is a professional non-profit music group that is known for its Accolade Series of concerts and for productions in conjunction with other arts organizations in other parts of Queens. Performances are made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, and are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with additional funding from State Sen. Serphin R. Maltese through the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation.
Corporate, foundation and community supporters include Emigrant Savings Bank, Flushing Council on Cultural and the Arts, Independence Community Foundation, JPMorganChase Foundation, Materials for the Arts, New York Community Bank, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, and Sam Ash Music Corporation.
Flushing Town Hall is located at 137-35 Northern Blvd. and is easy to reach by car and only few blocks from the Main Street subway and LIRR stations.
General admission is $20 for each concert; seniors and students with id pay $18; children 12 and under, accompanied by an adult, are admitted free. For more information, call Musica Reginae at 718-279-4842.
