Ursula Oppens, a legend among American pianists, is widely admired particularly for her original and perceptive readings of new music, but also for her knowing interpretations of the standard repertoire. No other artist alive today has commissioned and premiered more new works for the piano that have entered the permanent repertoire.

A prolific and critically acclaimed recording artist with five Grammy nominations to her credit, Ms. Oppens is renowned for her cult classic The People United Will Never Be Defeated by the late iconoclastic composer Frederic Rzewski. That 1979 release, for the Vanguard label, marked her first Grammy nomination. In 2016 she put out a new recording of The People United Will Never Be Defeated, also nominated for a Grammy, and earlier Grammy nominations were for Winging It: Piano Music of John Corigliano; Oppens Plays Carter; a recording of the complete piano works of Elliott Carter for Cedille Records (also named a "Best of the Year" selection by The New York Times' long-time music critic Allan Kozinn); and Piano Music of Our Time featuring compositions by John Adams, Elliott Carter, Julius Hemphill, and Conlon Nancarrow for the Music and Arts label. Ms. Oppens recently added to her extensive discography by releasing Fantasy: Oppens plays Kaminsky in 2021 for the Cedille label. She also recorded Piano Songs, a collaboration with Meredith Monk, as well as a two-piano CD for Cedille Records devoted to Visions de l'Amen of Oliver Messiaen and Debussy's En blanc et noir performed with pianist Jerome Lowenthal.

Ursula & Friends

Saturday, February 3, 2024 @ 3:00pm – 4:30pm (EST)
Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, New York, NY, United States

$30

Lincoln Center: Philip Glass's The Complete Piano Etudes

Sunday, November 19, 2023 @ 7:00pm – 9:30pm (EST)
Philip GlassEtudes (complete etudes 1-20)

Currently sold out ($35 suggested price)

Cassatt String Quartet with Ursula Oppens, piano [LIVE]

Sunday, May 23, 2021 @ 8:00pm – 9:00pm (EDT)
Online event
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel – Selections from Das Jahr, H. 385
Victoria Bond – Blue and Green Music
Amy Beach – Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor, Op. 67

Free ($20 suggested donation)

UW Guest Artist Recital: Ursula Oppens, piano

Thursday, November 2, 2017 @ 7:30pm – 8:30pm (PDT)
Brechemin Auditorium, Seattle, WA, United States
Long recognized as the leading champion of contemporary American piano music, Ursula Oppens’ original and perceptive readings of other music, old and new, have earned her a place among the elect of today’s performing musicians.

Free

UW Guest Artist Master Class: Ursula Oppens, piano

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 @ 4:30pm – 6:30pm (PDT)
Brechemin Auditorium, Seattle, WA, United States
A masterclass from Ursula Oppens, a legend among American pianists.

Free (Free)