JUST IN: Program details for Joshua Bell/Jeremy Denk and Gerald Finley/Julius Drake

We've just received repertoire details for two important concerts in the coming months.

Supremely distinguished superstar violinist JOSHUA BELL and the excellent pianist JEREMY DENK return to Spivey Hall for a Saturday, February 13, 2010 recital at 8:15 PM -- a sold-out concert with a growing wait list.

This a fantastic program. Those lucky enough to have tickets are in for a real treat -- an experience that will be, without question, one of of the most high-energy and artisically memorable evenings of the 2009/10 season. The Schumann First Sonata glows with the true soul of German Romanticism, and the Grieg Third Sonata (the most popular and, I think, best of his three) is an especially lovely piece. Plus the eternal beauty of Bach to begin, and the spectacular Ravel Sonata to close. (Encores, too, I suspect are likely.)


J. S. BACH Sonata No.4 for Violin & Piano in C minor, BWV1017
Largo
Allegro
Adagio
Allegro


EDVARD GRIEG Sonata No. 3 for Violin & Piano in C minor, Op. 45
Allegro molto ed appassionato
Allegretto espressivo alla romanza — Allegro
Allegro animato

—Intermission—

ROBERT SCHUMANN Sonata No. 1 for Violin & Piano in A minor, Op. 105
Mit leidenschaftlichem Ausdruck
Allegretto
Lebhaft


MAURICE RAVEL Sonata for Violin & Piano (1927)
Allegretto
Blues: Moderato
Perpetuum Mobile: Allegro


Plus, Jeremy Denk will give a piano master class on stage at Spivey Hall earlier that day at 11 AM. Denk, a Bard College Conservatory of Music faculty member, will coach students and reveal insights in matters of technique, interpretation and style in his own inimitable, highly knowledgeable, and delightfully articulate way. Tickets are just $10.

Later in the season, on Sunday, March 14, 2010, the immensely gifted and widely celebrated Canadian bass-baritone GERALD FINLEY makes his Spivey Hall and Atlanta recital debut with the superb British pianist (and frequent Spivey Hall guest artist) JULIUS DRAKE, peforming songs they have recorded to enthusiastic critical acclaim on the Hyperion label. Clayton State University's Dr. Kurt-Alexander Zeller will give the pre-concert talk at 2 PM prior to the 3 PM performance.

This promises to be a totally delectable afternoon of music. If you love song recitals, do NOT miss this one! Good seats are still available from the Spivey Hall Box Office, (678) 466-4200, as well as online via our website.

The artists will perform:

ROBERT SCHUMANN: Heine settings

I
Tragödie I, II Op. 64 No.3
Der arme Peter I, II, III Op. 53. No. 3

II
Lehn’ deine Wang’ Op.142 No. 2
Es leuchtet meine Liebe Op.127 No.3
Dein Angesicht Op.127 No. 2
Mein Wagen rollet langsam Op.142 No. 4

III
Belsazar Op. 57
Die feindlichen Brüder Op. 49 No. 2
Abends am Strand Op. 49 No. 3
Die beiden Grenadiere Op. 49 No. 1

—Intermission—

MAURICE RAVEL: Histoires naturelles

SAMUEL BARBER: Four Songs
The Daisies
Solitary Hotel
Bessie Bobtail
Nocturne

CHARLES IVES: Four Songs
West London
In the Alley
Charlie Rutledge
Slugging a Vampire


And, of course (as my tombstone will read), "Programs and artists subject to change." But with any luck, the only change will be warmer weather -- we're still FREEZING in Atlanta! No more of this snow and ice stuff, please!