May Phang Tonight!

May Phang, my amazing colleague from DePauw, performs tonight in what looks to be a fantastic program.  She's making connections: rondos (pieces with a recurring theme and contrasting sections) by classical-era composers Mozart and Hummel, along with a set of variations by the latter, make up the first half.

The second half opens with two ballades--instrumental ballads.  First, a very famous one by Chopin, then what I'm sure will be quite something: Superstar Etude No. 3 "Ballad(e) Out of the Blues" by Alan Jay Kernis.  Nariaki Sugiura performed the Superstar Etude No. 1 last month.  It was wild and crazy, even using his foot on the piano, and a big hit.

I really can't wait to hear/see this piece!

Then to finish things off, May will play two pieces by Franz Liszt, the 19th-century showman, virtuoso, and genius who essentially invented the solo piano recital.

More details in the Banner-Graphic story and on the DePauw website.  May's bio is here.

--Eric Edberg