The piano has been beloved by composers, pianists and audiences for almost 300 years. Pianist Heather Coltman takes you on a historical journey of this extraordinary musical instrument, embellished by insightful and intriguing commentary that will illuminate the challenges and rewards of classical music performance. Hear the sounds and stories of geniuses from the past come to life in her performances of these masterworks.
Each piano masterwork is a dialogue between composer, instrument and pianist: instrument and artist explore, interpret, celebrate and animate the notes on the page. To perform a masterwork requires more than reading the music on the page: the artist must understand the composer, the composer’s relationship to the history of music, and the meaning of the composition in our current musical era.
You will witness the art of interpretation in action – a multi-layered and complex creative process, in which hundreds of small decisions are made, and which ultimately culminates in unique and distinctive interpretations of compositional masterpieces.
Program includes works of Bach, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Debussy and Joplin.
Note: A tuned and ready piano is required for this performance lecture.