Emerald City Music: Evolution
$34 ($55 premium seats)
- Henry Kramer, piano
- Mikael Darmanie, piano & synthesizer
- Vicky Chow, piano & prepared piano
- Kenneth Weiss, harpsichord
Maurice Ravel — Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55 (I. Ondine)
Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Philip Glass — Étude No. 2
John Cage — Sonatas and Interludes (Sonata No. 1; Interlude No. 3; Sonata No. 5)
Thomas Tallis — Felix Namque II FVB 110
Frédéric Chopin — Polonaise No. 6 in A-flat major, Op. 53 "Héroïque"
Emerald City Music is Olympia’s home for world-class classical music performances in an unstuffy environment.
This epic performance tells the tale of the world’s most loved and versatile instrument. Listeners will follow its physical evolution and the iconic music written at each stage of technological development: from the harpsichord through the forte-piano, contemporary piano, prepared-piano, and modern-day instruments like synthesizer. Early composers like Thomas Tallis (1505-1589) and Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) were defining masters of the instrument, inspiring the likes of Beethoven and Chopin to write more challenging and dynamic music as the technical ability of the piano developed during the Industrial Revolution. Pianos soon became progressively larger, louder, and with a wider range of octaves (five by the 1790s and seven by 1820). Enter John Cage, who for a time resided in Seattle creating music that again redefined the abilities of the acoustic piano by “preparing it” by placing objects in the instrument to alter the tonal ability. The evolution of modern-day technologies again reinvented the keyboard to infinitely expand the range of the instrument via the computer-aided synthesizer.
COVID-19 Protocols: For patrons 12 and older, we are currently requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test provided by a lab within 72 hours for entry to the Washington Center. Patrons age 18 and older must also show a photo ID. Patrons age 11 and younger are not required to show proof of vaccination or a negative test. For more info click here: https://www.washingtoncenter.org/events-tickets/faq/
About Henry Kramer, piano
Praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer as a "pianist of enormous talent" and The New York Times for “thrilling [and] triumphant” performances, pianist Henry Kramer is a musician of rare sensitivity who combines stylish programming with insightful and exuberant interpretations. An international prize winner, Mr. Kramer has been awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant by Lincoln Center–one of the most coveted honors bestowed on young American soloists.
In addition to a thriving solo career, Kramer is a recording and performance collaborator with such musicians as Mathew Lipman and Jiyoon Lee and has appeared in recitals at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Mainly Mozart Festival, the Mostly Mozart Festival, and La Jolla Music Society’s Summerfest. His recording with violinist Lee on the Champs Hill label received four stars from BBC Music Magazine, and Gramophone UK praised Kramer's recording collaboration (Cedille Records) with violist Lipman for an "exemplary flexible partnership." Henry has also performed alongside Emmanuel Pahud, the Calidore and Pacifica Quartets, and Miriam Fried, as well as members of the Berlin Philharmonic and Orchestra of St. Luke’s.
Kramer, a Steinway Artist, graduated from the Juilliard School, where he worked with Julian Martin and Robert McDonald, and received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music under the guidance of Boris Berman. His teachers trace a pedagogical lineage extending back to Beethoven, Chopin, and Busoni.
http://www.henrykramerpiano.com/About Mikael Darmanie, piano & synthesizer
About Vicky Chow, piano & prepared piano
Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts
2011 Mottman Rd SWOlympia, WA 98512
United States
https://www.washingtoncenter.org/venue/kenneth-j-minnaert-center-main-stage/
(360) 596-5333