Ax first captured public attention in 1974 when, at the age of 25, he wonthe first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition. He went on to win both the Michaels Award of Young Concert Artists and the coveted Avery Fisher Prize. His many Sony recordings have earned two Grammy Awards, and his acclaimed recordings with cellist Yo-Yo Ma have received four more. Locally, he is known for his appearances with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
His Eastman Theatre program will include a pair of new works written especially for him by two female rising stars in the composition world: Ballade (2005) by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and Ji-Dong-Nuo (2005) by Chinese-born American composer Chen Yi. Ax's program also will include works by Brahms, Liszt, and Chopin.
The Grand Pianist series continues on Tuesday, February 14, with Christopher O'Riley, who juxtaposes classical works and rock transcriptions by Radiohead, Tori Amos, and others. On Tuesday, April 11, Krystian Zimerman will bring his customized Hamburg Steinway to the stage.
Tickets for Ax (and all Grand Pianists recitals) range from $15 to $30 and are available at the RPO Box Office (108 East Avenue), by phone at 454-2100, online at www.rochester.edu/Eastman/concerts, or at Rochester-area Wegmans Home Video departments. Any unsold tickets will be available at the Eastman Theatre Box Office one hour before concert time.
Maintained by University Public Relations
Piano tradition returns to Eastman
Ax performs December 1.
achmaninoff, Horowitz, and Serkin are just a few of the piano greats that have appeared in recital in the Eastman Theatre during the past century. After a 20 year hiatus, the theater, with its new concert shell and improved acoustics, once again will play host to piano legends as the Grand Pianist series kicks off Thursday, December 1, with Emanuel Ax in a program entitled "Ballades."
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