Genevieve Feiwen Lee, Everett S. Olive Professor and professor of music, will offer a solo recital of music for piano and harpsichord by Beethoven, F. Couperin, Debussy and Ligeti in Bridges Hall of Music (150 E. Fourth St., Claremont) at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1. The recital is free and open to the public.
This program is a “juxtaposition of contrasts,” says Lee, “which greatly interests me. I’m starting with a lovely harpsichord piece by François Couperin from its heyday in the 18th century. Not long after this period, harpsichord was largely abandoned until the latter half of the 20th century when in contrast Ligeti’s Continuum for harpsichord was composed. It is an example of one of a few pieces he wrote for this “old” instrument, and offers a more avant-garde texture of the harpsichord. Ligeti’s Musica Ricercata for piano, which suggests an older style of music, follows. So, the newer sounding music is heard on the older instrument and vice versa. Following, I’ll perform Beethoven’s Opus 90, which is also full of contrasts, with the first movement being unusually succinct and the second being wandering and digressive. Then to close I’ll circle back to French music with the beautifully lush piano writing of Debussy.”
A versatile performer of music that spans five centuries, Lee has thrilled audiences on the piano, harpsichord, toy piano, keyboard, and electronics. She enjoys finding music that challenges her to go outside of her comfort zone to sing, speak, act and play many new instruments.
Since her first engagement with the York Symphony at the age of 12, Lee has appeared with the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, Brazil; the Vratza State Philharmonic, Bulgaria; and The Orchestra of Northern New York. She has given solo piano recitals at Merkin Concert Hall, NY, and the Salle Gaveau in Paris. Her concerts in Changsha, China, were broadcast by Hunan State Television, and her performance from the Spiegelzaal at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam was broadcast on live radio (AVRO). As a founding member of the Mojave Trio, she plays regularly on the “Sundays Live” concerts at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. As a member of the Garth Newel Piano Quartet (Hot Springs, Virginia) she recently performed in Carnegie Hall.
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PROGRAM:
François Couperin:............. Les Folies Francoises
György Ligeti:................... Continuum
Ligeti:............................... Musica Ricercata
Beethoven:........................ Sonata Op. 90
Claude Debussy:................ L’isle joyeuse