Virtual Premiere

An evening with Pianist and Raconteur Brian Ganz: Romanticism and the Revolutionary Spirit in the works of Chopin and Delacroix

Aptos, CA

Sun, May 23, 2021 5:00 PM, PDT

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Distinguished Artists Concert

Capacity: 174 of 300 spots still available
: Bring your own drinks
: No bathroom at this event

This is a Groupmuse Virtual Premiere

An online debut of exceptionally crafted pre-recorded content, coupled with musician + audience videochat.

The Distinguished Artists Concert and Lecture Series, Ow Family Properties, and Dr. and Mrs. Lester Miller proudly present acclaimed pianist and raconteur Brian Ganz!

Reserve your spot for an intimate evening of music and conversation with pianist Brian Ganz, as he performs and discusses the music of Frederic Chopin and the paintings of his friend and contemporary, painter Eugene Delacroix.

In this one-hour masterclass, Brian will perform a selection of Chopin's best known and loved compositions. He will then demonstrate how Chopin's music and the paintings of Eugene Delacroix express the essence of romanticism and the revolutionary spirit in 19th century Europe. The evening will conclude with a toast and an interactive Q&A. You won't want to miss this exceptional program!

More on pianist Brian Ganz:

Brian Ganz is widely regarded as one of the leading pianists of his generation.

A laureate of the Marguerite Long Jacques Thibaud and the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Piano Competitions, Mr. Ganz has appeared as soloist with such orchestras as the St. Louis Symphony, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony, the National Philharmonic, the National Symphony, the City of London Sinfonia, and the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra, and has performed with such conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Marin Alsop, Mstislav Rostropovich, Piotr Gajewski and Yoel Levi.

The Washington Post has written: “One comes away from a recital by pianist Brian Ganz not only exhilarated by the power of the performance but also moved by his search for artistic truth.” For many years Mr. Ganz has made it his mission to join vivid music making with warmth and intimacy onstage to produce a new kind of listening experience, in which great works come to life with authentic emotional power. As one of Belgium's leading newspapers, La Libre Belgique, put it, "We don't have the words to speak of this fabulous musician who lives music with a generous urgency and brings his public into a state of intense joy."

In January of 2011 Mr. Ganz began a multi-year project in partnership with the National Philharmonic in which he will perform the complete works of Frédéric Chopin at the Music Center at Strathmore. After the inaugural recital, The Washington Post wrote: "Brian Ganz was masterly in his first installment of the complete works [of Chopin]." This year's February recital marked the tenth in the series. (For four excerpts from that recital, see "Videos.") The next recital in the series will take place on February 27, 2021.

Mr. Ganz is on the piano faculty of St. Mary's College of Maryland, where he is artist-in-residence, and is also a member of the piano faculty of the Peabody Conservatory. He is the artist-editor of the Schirmer Performance Edition of Chopin’s Preludes (2005). Recent performance highlights include Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 at the Alba Music Festival in Italy and with the National Philharmonic at Strathmore, Mozart's Piano Concerto K. 466 with the Virginia Chamber Orchestra and the Annapolis Symphony, Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto with the Billings Symphony, and a solo recital for the Distinguished Artists Series of Santa Cruz, California.

What's the music?

Brian Ganz Piano

Etude in C minor, Op. 10, No. 12 ("Revolutionary")
Nocturne in G minor, Op. 15, No. 3
Mazurka in C-sharp minor, Op. 50, No. 3
Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 55, No. 2
Waltz in F minor, Op. 70, No. 2
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 ("Heroic")