Pianists to note 100th anniversary of Brahms' death
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of composer Johannes Brahms, pianists Frank Glazer and Duncan Cumming ’93 will perform the composer’s complete works for solo piano in a series of concerts at Bates College Sept. 14 at 3 p.m.; Oct. 5 at 3 p.m.; Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. and Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m in the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St. The public is invited to attend the performances free of charge.
The first concert of the series features Sonata, C Major, Op. 1; Sonata, F- sharp minor, Op. 2; Scherzo, E-flat minor, Op. 4 and Sonata, F minor, Op.5.
The piano was the starting point for Brahms and remained central to his creative work and life. “Taken as a whole, Brahm’s solo piano works crown the literature for this instrument at the close of the 19th century,” said Marc Howard of the Olin Arts Center. “This series of four recitals provides a unique and rare opportunity to experience this monumnetal body of music in its entirety.”
Artist-in-residence and lecturer in music at Bates since 1980, Glazer previously served on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester for 15 years. A specialist in Beethoven, he is a recipient of the distinguished Paderewski Piano Medal, awarded in London to “an artist of superlative degree.”
His performances have taken him throughou the United States, South America, Europe and the Near East. He has performed at Carnegie and Avery Fischer halls in New York, the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. A founding member of the New England Piano Quartett, Glazer performs regularly in the Portland Chamber Music Society series.
Cumming graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with highest honors from Bates where he studied with Glazer. While at Bates, he played a solo recital every year, appeared as the concerto soloist with the Maine Chamber Ensemble in its inaugural concert and performed often in chamber music concerts.
In 1994, Cumming spent a term in Prague playing chamber music on a scholarship from the European Mozart Foundation. Upon returning, he joined the teaching and performing faculty at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. Cumming completed the master’s program at New England Conservatory where he earned a degree with Patricia Zander. He has played at recitals across New England as well as in England.
Cumming joined Glazer at the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall on Aug. 1 for a performance featuring works by Mozart, Schubert and Brahms.
For more information about the Brahms concert series, call the Olin Arts Center at 207-786-6135.
