Program

Liebestraum No. 3 (“Love Dream”)

Based on a poem written by German writer, Ferdinand Freliligrath Entitled, O Lieb, so lang du lieben kannst (Love as long as love you can) this famous Nocturne explores love and the loss of love

Un Sospiro (“A Sigh”)

Un Sospiro (“A Sigh”) is the third of three Concert Etudes, so named because Liszt meant them to be “performed” as well as “studied” The other two include Il Lamento (“The Lament”) and La Leggierezza (“Lightness”)

Intimacy No. 3 – Forest Friends (Brian Finley)

The third of twelve Intimacies for solo piano composed by Brian Finley in 2020, No. 3 is an intimate duet that evokes a gentle “forest friendship” between two kindred spirits...

Consolation No. 3

A short, simple, beautiful gem of a piece, similar in style to Chopin’s Nocturne in E Flat, this Consolation was composed the year following Chopin’s death in 1849.

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

Composed when Liszt was a 36-year-old internationally acclaimed virtuoso, the Hungary Rhapsody No 2 is one of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies exploring the fire-lit folk music of the wandering Roma communities of his native Hungary

[Intermission]

Concert Paraphrase on Verdi’s “Rigoletto”

A staple in the repertoire of any 19th Century piano virtuoso, transcriptions and paraphrases of operatic works explored the largerthan-life emotions of opera on the piano while introducing this music to a much broader public

Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude (from Harmonies poétiques et religieuses)

Having been described as “the perfect marriage between Liszt’s abilities as a virtuoso pianist and his profound spirituality”, the Bénédiction is one of Liszt’s most profound musical prayers of thanksgiving.