Distinguished Pianists play at New Paltz’s PianoSummer for its 16th year
Paul Ostrovsky, PianoSummer Institute Faculty member, playing at last year’s Faculty Gala. Credit: Lorna Tychostup
NEW PALTZ– PianoSummer at New Paltz Institute/Festival is the pinnacle of the summer arts season in the Hudson Valley. Under the direction of internationally renowned pianist Vladimir Feltsman, the Institute/Festival begins its 16th season on July 9 with concerts, recitals, master classes, lectures and a piano competition. Concerts and events take place at the State University of New York at New Paltz campus. For information about Festival/Institute events and tickets, visit our Web site www.newpaltz.edu/piano or call the Box Office at 845-257-3880, Monday – Friday 11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
PianoSummer Festival
Vladimir Feltsman and an impressive group of artist/faculty have lined up a schedule of concerts and events by musicians of exceptional talent and distinct musical personalities. On July 9, Robert Roux, Phillip Kawin, Alexander Korsantia, Susan Starr, Paul Ostrovsky, Robert Hamilton and Vladimir Feltsman will perform in the Faculty Gala. Special recitals on July 16 and 23 will highlight the celebrated talents of pianists Roberto Plano and Jon Nakamatsu.
The Festival concludes with the popular Symphony Gala featuring the Hudson Valley Philharmonic on July 29 with maestro Feltsman conducting. Works by Franz Liszt will be performed during the Faculty Gala and in recitals by Roberto Plano and Jon Nakamatsu, in honor of Liszt’s bicentennial birth date.
PianoSummer Institute Events
The Institute’s schedule of high-quality lectures, master classes, student recitals and piano competition exude enthusiasm and artistic excellence. Highlights of this year’s events include the Jacob Flier International Piano Competition, student recitals and master classes conducted by Alexander Korsantia, Jon Nakamatsu and Yefim Bronfman. In addition, two lectures will be offered, “Liszt and Religion” given by Robert Hamilton and “How much was added to music before 1830” by guest faculty Anthony Newman. All Institute events are open to the public, some free of charge.
About Vladimir Feltsman
Vladimir Feltsman is internationally recognized as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. Feltsman has performed works from Johann Sebastian Bach and such Russian composers as Alfred Schnittke and Nikolai Karentnikov. He has performed with all the major American orchestras and worked with conductors Dennis Russell Davies, Andre Previn and Zubin Mehta.
Vladimir Feltsman Credit: Dion Oqust
An artist of immense range and insight, Feltsman’s public debut was at the age of 12, when he performed as a soloist with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra. He won first prize at the Concertina International Competition in Prague at 15, an award that ledhim to enroll in the Moscow Conservatory.
In the summer of 1987, Feltsman arrived in the United States after receiving permission to leave the Soviet Union. The PBS television documentary “Journey From Home: Vladimir Feltsman in Moscow” recounts his return to Moscow after being banned from the concert halls. He has appeared on national television programs such as “60 Minutes,”“CBS This Morning,” the “Today Show,”“PBS’ Live From Lincoln Center” and “The McLaughlin Group.”
Celebrated as one of the most imaginative and consistently interesting musicians of our time, Vladimir Feltsman is a regular guest soloist with leading orchestras in the U.S., and he appears in the most prestigious concert series and music festivals around the world.
PianoSummer at New Paltz is sponsored by the School of Fine & Performing Arts at the State University of New York at New Paltz.