By E von Autenried
The award-winning Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra, led by music director and conductor Chiu-Tze Lin, will perform a concert, Magnificent Masterworks, on Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 7:00 pm at Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University. This concert will feature 28-year old pianist, Nathaniel LaNasa, who will perform the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. It will also feature a virtuoso performance by master teacher Hua-Yi Wang’s violin studio. This concert is presented by Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with The Golandsky Institute of New York City. The Golandsky Institute is the sponsor of the annual International Summer Piano Festival at Princeton University.
Praised by the New York Times for “the stormy lyricism” of his performance, pianist Nathaniel LaNasa has already been lauded by critics for the “definitive interpretation” (Portland Press-Herald). A young artist with a quickly expanding calendar of engagements, he has performed at many of the nation’s most esteemed concert venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Benaroya Hall, the Aspen Music Festival, Bowdoin Music Festival, Princeton University, and the Museum of Modern Art. Mr. LaNasa has performed numerous world premieres, including three concerti and several works dedicated to him. He has appeared as soloist with the New Juilliard Ensemble, Tactus New Music Ensemble, Manhattan School of Music’s Composers’ Orchestra, and other ensembles. Mr. LaNasa was recently recognized for his “deft sense of precision … poise and elegance” in performances of the works of Tobias Picker with the Tobias Picker Ensemble. He earned his degrees at the Manhattan School of Music and the Julliard School of Music. His teachers were André-Michel Schub and Julian Martin. Mr. LaNasa is currently collaborating with Robert Durso, Senior Director of The Golandsky Institute. He will perform the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor.
Back by popular demand, the virtuoso violinists from master teacher, Hua-Yi Wang, will present a repeat performance from three years ago, at this concert. The violin ensemble will be playing in unison, which is a pedagogical training presented by Ma Si Cong, founder of the China Central Conservatory, and the famed violin pedagogue, Yehudi Menuhim. Mr. Wang graduated from the Central Conservatory in Beijing, where he studied violin chamber music and composition under the world renowned Ma Si Cong. Mr. Wang was the Concertmaster of the Central Conservatory Orchestra and became the understudy of the Concertmaster of the National Philharmonic Orchestra. He came to the United States in 1985. Mr. Wang is currently a resident of New Jersey and has become a highly-respected and dedicated teacher over the last twenty years. His brilliant teaching style has been recognized by the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).
The Orchestra will also perform the Beethoven Symphony No. 7, Op. 92. It is a four-movement symphonic work which Beethoven conducted himself at its premiere.
This concert will be held at the Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall at Princeton University. Ticket prices are $25 and $35 ($20 and $30 for seniors/students). Premium seating is available at $75 per ticket.
Tickets can be purchased at the Frist Campus Center Ticket Office, Monday through Friday, 12noon to 6pm; by phone at 609-258-9220; on the internet at www.princeton.edu/utickets; or in person at the Richardson ticket office, one hour prior to the performance. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting Bravura Philharmonic at 609-790-9559 or 609-933-4729 (Chinese).
Additional information can be found at www.bravuraphil.org.
