2014 10 08 chen&wilson

Ransom Wilson flute

& Melvin Chen piano

faculty artist series October 8, 2014 • Morse Recital Hall

Robert Blocker, Dean

Artist Profiles

Faculty Artist Series

Ransom Wilson & Melvin Chen Wednesday, October 8, 2014 • 7:30pm • Morse Recital Hall

Franz Joseph Haydn 1732–1809

Sonata for flute and piano in C major, Op. 87 I. Allegro moderato II. Andantino grazioso III. Vivace

Ludwig van Beethoven 1770–1827

Serenade in D major, Op. 41 I. Entrata: Allegro II. Tempo ordinario d’un Menuetto III. Allegro molto IV. Andante con variazioni V. Allegro scherzando e vivace VI. Adagio - Allegro vivace e disinvolto intermission

Claude Debussy 1862–1918 Jean Rivier 1896–1987 André Jolivet-Ascèses 1905–1974 Debussy

Philippe Gaubert 1879–1941

Three works for solo flute: Syrinx Oiseaux tendres Pour que demeure le secret, nous tairons jusqu’au silence

L’après-midi d’un faune arr. Gustave Samazeuilh Sonatine (1937) I. Allegretto, très allant II. Hommage à Schumann

As a courtesy to the performers and audience, please silence all electronic devices.

Please do not leave the hall during selections. Photography or recording of any kind is prohibited.

Ransom Wilson · flute

Melvin Chen · piano

Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Ransom Wilson graduated from the Juilliard School in 1973, and spent a year in Paris as a private student of Jean-Pierre Rampal. An exclusive recording contract with Angel/EMI followed soon thereafter, along with extensive performances all over the world. As flute soloist, he has appeared in concert with some of the greatest orchestras of our time, including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and London Symphony.

Melvin Chen has received acclaim for performances throughout the United States and abroad.

As a soloist and chamber musician, Mr. Chen has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Weill Recital Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Boston’s Jordan Hall, in addition to other appearances throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia.

He is turning increasingly to a career in orchestral and operatic conducting, and has recently been named conductor and teacher of conducting at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music.

Since 2006 he has been a member of the musical staff at the Metropolitan Opera. Additionally, he is founder of a new ensemble in New York, LE TRAIN BLEU. He has appeared as guest conductor with the London Symphony Orchestra and Hallé Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Denver Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (with Sir James Galway), and Orchestra of St. Luke’s, among many others.

Ransom Wilson is an artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, conductor at SUNY Purchase, assistant conductor at the Metropolitan Opera, artistic director of Le Train Bleu, and music director of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company.

Mr. Chen’s performances have been featured on media around the globe, including KBS television and radio (Korea), NHK television (Japan), and NPR (United States). Solo recordings include Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations on the Bridge label, praised as “a classic” by the American Record Guide, and Joan Tower’s piano music on Naxos.

Recordings of the Shostakovich piano sonatas and Gordon’s Orpheus and Euridice were released in 2007. An enthusiastic chamber musician, Mr. Chen has collaborated with such artists as Ida Kavafian, David Shifrin, Pamela Frank, Peter Wiley, and with the Shanghai, Tokyo, Miami, Penderecki, and Miró quartets. He has performed at festivals including Bravo! Vail Valley, Norfolk (Connecticut), Bard, and Music from Angel Fire.

Melvin 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. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics from Yale University, where he also studied with Boris Berman, Paul Kantor, and Ida Kavafian. Mr. Chen served on the piano faculty of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, where he was also associate director. He is the artistic director of the chamber music program at the Hotchkiss Summer Portals. In 2012 he rejoined the faculty of the Yale School of Music, where he serves as Associate Professor (Adjunct) of Piano and Deputy Dean.

Upcoming Events

Carol Jantsch, tuba

Peter Serkin, piano

october 13 Morse Recital Hall | Monday | 7:30 pm Faculty Artist Series Music by Debussy, David Lang, Piazzolla, and Koetsier Free Admission

october 22 Morse Recital Hall | Wednesday | 7:30 pm Horowitz Piano Series Music from the Renaissance and by Nielsen, Schoenberg, and Mozart Tickets start at $21 • Students $11

John Adams, guest conductor

Yale Choral Artists

october 17 Yale Philharmonia Woolsey Hall | Friday | 7:30 pm Stravinsky: Orpheus; Adams: Absolute Jest, featuring the Brentano String Quartet; Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major Tickets start at $10 • Students $5 $3 surcharge for purchases at the door

october 24 Woolsey Hall | Friday | 7:30 pm Jeffrey Douma, director Music by Arvo Pärt and Benjamin Britten, including Pärt’s Berliner Messe, Britten’s Missa Brevis, and more. Featuring organist Thomas Murray. With the New Haven Symphony Orchestra Free Admission

Boris Berman, piano • Ettore Causa, viola october 20 Morse Recital Hall | Monday | 7:30 pm Faculty Artist Series With the Arabella String Quartet Shostakovich: Piano Quintet in G minor, plus music by Webern and Mendelssohn Free Admission

Ron Carter Trio october 24 Morse Recital Hall | Friday | 7:30 pm Ellington Jazz Series The legendary jazz bassist returns to Yale, appearing with Russell Malone, guitar, and Donald Vega, piano Tickets start at $20 • Students $10

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Robert Blocker, Dean