Melvin Chen, piano

Presenting

MELVIN CHEN horowitz piano series

march 27, 2013 Morse Recital Hall 路 Wednesday at 8 pm 路 Music by Beethoven, Mussorgsky, and Joan Tower

Robert Blocker, Dean

m elv in ch en, p ia no March 27, 2013 • Sprague Memorial Hall

Ludwig van Beethoven 1770–1827

Joan Tower b. 1938

Bagatelles, Op. 126 I. Andante con moto. Cantabile compiacevole II. Allegro III. Andante. Cantabile e grazioso IV. Presto V. Quasi allegretto VI. Presto — Andante amabile e con moto

Steps (2011)

Ebony and Ivory (2008)

intermission

Modest Mussorgsky 1839–1881

Pictures at an Exhibition I. Promenade II. Gnomus III. Promenade IV. Il vecchio castello V. Promenade VI. Tuileries VII. Bydło VIII. Promenade IX. Ballet des poussins dans leurs coques X. Samuel Goldenberg et Schmuyle XI. Promenade XII. Limoges. Le marché XIII. Catacombes. Sepulchrum romanum XIV. Cum Mortus in lingua mortua XV. La cabane sur des pattes de poule XVI. La grande porte de Kiev

As a courtesy to the performers and audience, turn off cell phones and pagers. Please do not leave the hall during selections. Photography or recording of any kind is prohibited.

Horowitz Piano Series • Boris Berman, Artistic Director

About the Artist

Record Guide, and a recording of Joan Tower’s piano music on the Naxos label.

Recordings of the Shostakovich piano sonatas and Gordon’s Orpheus and Euridice were released in 2007.

A native of Tennessee, pianist Melvin Chen is recognized as an important artist, having received acclaim for performances throughout the United States and abroad. As a soloist and chamber musician Mr. Chen has performed at major venues in the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Kennedy Center, and Boston’s Jordan Hall, in addition to other appearances throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia.

Mr. Chen’s performances have been featured on radio and television stations around the globe, including KBS television and radio in Korea, NHK television in Japan, and NPR in the United States. Solo recordings include Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations on the Bridge label, praised as “a classic” by the American

An enthusiastic chamber musician, Mr. Chen has collaborated with such artists as Ida Kavafian, David Shifrin, Pamela Frank, and Peter Wiley, and with the Shanghai, Tokyo, Miami, Penderecki, and Miró quartets. A performer in numerous music festivals, he has performed at the Bravo!

Vail Valley Music Festival, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Bard Music Festival, and Music from Angel Fire, among others.

Mr. Chen completed a doctorate in chemistry from Harvard University, and also holds a double master’s degree from The Juilliard School in piano and violin.

Previously, he attended Yale University, receiving a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and physics, where he also studied with Boris Berman, Paul Kantor, and Ida Kavafian.

Mr. Chen was previously on the piano faculty of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, where he was also associate director. He is also the artistic director of the chamber music program at the Hotchkiss Summer Portals. He is currently Deputy Dean and Associate Professor (Adjunct) of Piano at the Yale School of Music.

Upcoming Events

New Music New Haven

The Classical Style

march 28 Morse Recital Hall | Thu | 8 pm Featuring faculty composers David Lang, Martin Bresnick, Jack Vees, Ingram Marshall, and Hannah Lash.

Free Admission

april 4 15 Hillhouse Ave. | Thu | 5:30 pm Collection of Musical Instruments The Yale Baroque Ensemble plays music by Mozart, Haydn, Dussek, Paganini, and more.

Free Admission

Ekaterina Derzhavina, piano

Yale Philharmonia

march 28 Whitney Humanities Center | Thu | 8 pm Music for solo piano by Haydn, Berg, Schubert, and Messiaen.

Free Admission

april 5 Woolsey Hall | Fri | 8 pm Yale Philharmonia Peter Oundjian, guest conductor.

American music by Barber, Copland, Christopher Rouse, and John Adams.

Free Admission

Brahms Piano Quartets april 2 Morse Recital Hall | Tue | 8 pm Oneppo Chamber Music Series Boris Berman, piano; Julie Eskar, violin; Ettore Causa, viola; and Clive Greensmith, cello, perform all three Brahms piano quartets.

Tickets: $12–22, Students $6–9

Music of the Russian Thaw april 7 Morse Recital Hall | Sun | 8 pm Boris Berman, piano, and YSM students perform music by Schnittke and others.

Free Admission

Concert Programs & Box Office: Krista Johnson, Carol Jackson, Julie Blindauer Communications: Dana Astmann, Monica Ong Reed, Austin Kase Operations: Tara Deming, Chris Melillo Piano Curators: Brian Daley, William Harold Recording Studio: Eugene Kimball

P.O. Box 208246, New Haven, CT · 203 432-4158

Robert Blocker, Dean

music.yale.edu