Miami International Piano Festival celebrates the 15th Anniversary of the Discovery Series

Colony Theatre. From May 17 through 20, 2012.

The Miami International Piano Festival is for pianists what “The Voice” is for pop vocalists – except without the fiercely competitive component. Celebrating its 15th Anniversary Season in 2012, and true to its mission to “discover, promote, support and document the great masters of the keyboard,” three compelling new artists will make their first-time appearances on Florida stages. Each was chosen for their unique ability to communicate fresh interpretations of classical piano literature. And each has a fascinating story:

Joseph Moog (Germany) – Thursday, May 17 – 8:00 pm

The 2012 International Classical Music Awards named Joseph Moog “Young Artist of the Year.” A combination of flawless virtuosic technique and individual approach to programming single out Joseph Moog, at the age of 24, as one of the most exciting young pianists today. Joseph Moog knows instinctively that making music is a life, not a career. When asked if he ever gets daunted by the success he’s already achieved at such a young age, Moog replies, “I never really intended to be a professional pianist, I just played and the love kept growing over the years. So my dream is just to keep going, to play more internationally, to develop personal relationships with conductors and orchestras. I really just love to do it.” In March 2011 he made his North American debut performing Liszt Concerto no. 1 with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in Denver.

For his Florida debut Joseph has selected the following pieces:

SCARLATTI/TAUSIG Pastorale E minor, Sonate G minor
MOZART Sonate No. 8 A minor KV 310
SCHUMANN Concert Etudes after Paganini – Caprices Variations
BEETHOVEN/LISZT Adelaïde
VERDI/LISZT Ernani
SCHUBERT/LISZT Variations on “Trauerwalzer”
BELLINI/LISZT Réminiscences de Norma

David Kadouch (France) Friday, May 18 – 8:00 p.m.

“Laureate of the 2009 Leeds International Pianoforte Competition and the 2005 Beethoven Competition in Bonn, David Kadouch is poised for a healthy career that already includes many concerts in the coming year. Having heard his highly auspicious New York recital debut this weekend, I was happy to discover that he is an artist of distinct individuality, not at all a typical contest prizewinner, but an engaging musician.” -Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review At 26 years old, David Kadouch is already a veteran of many of the world’s finest stages. At age 13 he played under the direction of Itzhak Perlman at the Metropolitan Hall and then the Carnegie Hall in New York. At 14 he was invited to play at the Bolshoi Hall of the Tchaikovski Conservatory in Moscow. In 2011 International Classical Music Awards named him Young Artist of the Year. “There was color, style, shade and touch in an ensemble which left his audience aware they were watching a great musician of tomorrow, today.” Jane Mcintosh for Bachtrack.com.

David Kadouch will make his Florida debut with a performance of:

HAYDN Andante with Variations in F-, Hob.XVII:6 (‘Un piccolo divertimento’)
DEBUSSY Two Preludes: Les fées sont d’exquises danseuses; Ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest
MEDTNER Sonata Reminiscenza in A minor Op.38
TANEIEV Prélude & Fugue Op,. 129 in G sharp minor
MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an Exhibition

Fabio Martino (Brazil) Saturday, May 19 – 8:00 p.m.
Winner of numerous awards including first prize at the 2010 BNDES International Piano Competition “Guiomar Novaes” in Rio de Janeiro, twenty-three-year-old Fabio Martino is destined to have a major international career following the footsteps of Nelson Freire, Arnaldo Cohen, and José Feghali as one of today’s most gifted Brazilian pianists. Praised for his “decisive creative force” and “vigor and sparkle in the moments of virtuosity” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany), Fabio Martino made his American debut in October of 2011.

For his Florida debut, Fabio has selected:

BEETHOVEN Fantasia in G minor, Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Apassionata”
RAVEL Miroirs – Noctuelles, Oiseaux tristes, Une barque sur l´océan, Alborada del gracioso, La vallée de cloches
SCRIABIN Sonata Op. 53 No. 5

The Miami International Piano Festival concludes its 15th Anniversary Season with two concerts completely dedicated to Beethoven’s Symphonies – exemplary of the unique and interesting programming for which the Festival has built its reputation.

Tribute to Beethoven: Four Pianists, Five Symphonies as transcribed for piano by Franz Liszt, Two Concerts Sunday May 20, 2012. 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
Featuring pianists Francesco Libetta (Italy), Kemal Gekic (Croatia), Eric Ferrand-N’Kaoua (France), and Misha Dacic (Serbia).

At 3:00 p.m. Italian master Francesco Libetta will perform Symphony No. 4 and Croatian pianist and current artist-in-residence at FIU will traverse the iconic Symphony No. 5. The afternoon program concludes with French pianist Eric Ferrand-N’Kaoua presenting Symphony No. 6.

At 8:00 p.m. the tribute to Beethoven’s masterful symphonies continues with Serbian super-star, Misha Dacic performing Symphony No. 7. For the grand finale, Misha will be joined by Kemal Gekic for a joyful version of Symphony No. 9.

Liszt’s life long crusade into the Beethoven Symphonies In April 1865 Liszt brought to completion his great series of transcriptions of the Beethoven Symphonies. As a young man at 25 he finished the arrangement of the 5th Symphony, probably with little thought that he might do all 9. It took him 30 years to complete the cycle.

His involvement in these transcriptions assumed the characteristics of a lifelong crusade until he was finally able to solve the challenge of capturing the orchestral textures for the keyboard. Liszt had an emotional attachment of an unusual order for Beethoven’s memory. Liszt’s transcriptions remain unsurpassed in the amount of fine orchestral detail incorporated in their texture and the seemingly impossible technical challenges at the piano are solved in a masterly fashion.

This music certainly doesn’t sound like Liszt and, of course, it isn’t – it’s Beethoven. The experience will be compelling and the audience will marvel at Beethoven’s music and Liszt’s conception for the piano.

Individual tickets start at $20 with $30 & $45 seats available. Students under 22 receive a 50% discount. Tickets are available through TicketMaster, by phone at 1.800.745.3000, or at the Colony Theatre Box Office: 305.674.1040 x1. Premier Package: $100 for all (6) concerts Premium Seating (no tickets fees if purchased at the box office).

Miami International Piano Festival at the Colony Theatre
1040 Lincoln Rd.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Ph: 305.935.5115
www.miamipianofest.com

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