Founded in 1964 Volume 31, Number 2

An official publication of the American Liszt Society, Inc.

2016 Festival: "Liszt and " TABLE OF CONTENTS by Dmitry Rachmanov, host

The theme of the American Liszt Society’s 2016 festival and conference is “Liszt and Russia.” The festival is being presented by the Department of Music at California State 1 "Liszt and Russia" University, Northridge, June 2 - 5. 2016 ALS Festival/Conference, The genesis of the festival theme goes back to Liszt’s tours of Russia in the 1840s by Dmitry Rachmanov and his contacts with Russian musicians. Liszt’s influence and support of music and musicians in Russia lasted throughout his mature life. This opens a fertile ground of 2 President's Message exploration of ’s legacy and lasting mark on Russian musical culture and musicians. Liszt’s impact on Russian music history and its development is hard to overestimate; during his heyday as the world's preeminent piano virtuoso, he made 3 Letter from the Editor three tours of Russia (1842 - 1847), leaving an indelible and powerful impression in all circles of Russian society. Subsequently, many Russian musicians made their pilgrimage to visit Liszt in and other places where he resided. On his part, 4 2016 ALS Festival Schedule Liszt encouraged and supported many Russian composers by performing their music, making piano transcriptions of their works, and popularizing them in other ways. The festival will feature eclectic and stimulating programming. Special events 5 A Conversation with include solo recitals by the most recent Van Cliburn Gold Medalist, Vadym Dmitry Rachmanov Kholodenko, with works by Liszt and Scriabin; the Italian Antonio Pompa- Baldi, one of ALS's regular featured artists, performing works by Liszt and ; and a senior professor of the Conservatory, Mikhail Voskresensky, 8 In Memoriam: Maurice Hinson, presenting music by Liszt, Borodin, Glinka-Balakirev, Tchaikovsky, Medtner, and by Wesley Roberts Prokofiev. The Festival’s final special event will be the concerto gala with the CSUN Symphony and international soloists: an Utrecht Liszt Competition winner, Peter 9 Member News Klimo; Beijing-based pianist Yuan Sheng; and ALS members Daniel Glover and Ksenia Nosikova in an afternoon of piano concerti by Liszt, Rimsky-Korsakov, Lyapunov, and Scriabin. 11 Chapter News Thematic programming includes a rare presentation by ten of the Twelve Transcendental Etudes by Sergey Lyapunov (1859 - 1924). These works are dedicated to the memory of Liszt, in which Lyapunov completed the circle of all 24 major and 12 Los Angeles International Liszt minor keys, starting with Liszt’s cycle of 12. The other programs will feature Liszt’s Competition Dates transcriptions of works by Russian composers, such as Glinka (“Tcherkessen March” from Ruslan and Ludmila, performed by Alexandre Dossin), Alabieff (“Le Rossignol,” 12 Odds 'n' Ends with Yun Ha Hwang), and others. Liszt’s direct influence on Russian composers and pianists will be highlighted in several programs, such as “Two Generations of Liszt’s Russian Pupils,” showcasing those who studied or collaborated with Liszt and 13 Liszt/Garrison Winners Announced their own pupils (Liszt’s musical “children and grandchildren”), featuring works by Anton Rubinstein and , Alexander Siloti and Sergei Rachmaninov, Pavel Pabst and Nicholas Medtner, and others. Another interesting program will explore the 14 Picture Pages “Four Generations of Tcherepnins,” presented by Justin Kolb and David Witten. (continued on page 5) 15 Membership Update

Perpetuating the ideas of Franz Liszt through excellence in music performance and scholarship PRESIDENT EMERITUS Fernando Laires President's Message

PRESIDENT Jay Hershberger* Concordia College Music Department Moorhead, MN 56562 [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT Alexandre Dossin* University of Oregon School of Music and Dance Eugene, OR 97403-1225 Dear Fellow Lisztians, [email protected] I hope that this new year finds all of you prospering and in good health. It was good to EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Justin Kolb* see a number of you at The American Liszt Society Festival at the University of North 1136 Hog Mountain Road Texas in Denton last September. What a memorable festival it was! Many thanks to Fleischmanns, NY 12430 festival director and ALS board member, Joseph Banowetz, for putting together a festival [email protected] of wonderful music making and stimulating presentations. "Liszt and Damnation" will MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY remain steadfast in my memory for a long time, and I am grateful for Joe’s artistic vision. Alexander Djordjevic* Special thanks also goes to Dr. James Scott, Dean of the UNT College of Music, for his PO Box 1020 Wheaton, IL 60187-1020 magnificent support of the festival, and to his prodigious administrative assistant, Anne [email protected] Oncken, whose oversight of the festival logistics was nothing short of world class. The 2016 festival in June at California State University, Northridge promises much the TREASURER Daniel Paul Horn* same high level of artistry, scholarship, and Lisztian fellowship. Dmitry Rachmanov, The American Liszt Society our festival director, has put together a marvelous program under the theme of "Liszt and PO Box 1020 Russia." Highlights include recitals by Van Cliburn gold medalist Vadym Kholodenko Wheaton, IL 60187-1020 [email protected] and Antonio Pampa-Baldi, a complete performance of the rarely heard Lyapunov Twelve Transcendental Etudes, and performances of concertos by Rimsky-Korsakov, Lyapunov, and ALS JOURNAL Scriabin. As well, The American Liszt Society is proud to announce that pianist Evgeny Jonathan Kregor, Editor Mary Emery Hall Room 4240 Kissin has been selected by the board of directors to receive the Medal of the American Cincinnati College-Conservatory Liszt Society in recognition of his commitment to the music of Liszt. Although Mr. PO Box 210003 Kissin will not be able to attend the 2016 festival, he has submitted an elegant video- Cincinnati OH 45221-0003 [email protected] taped acceptance speech that is both moving and compelling. I am certain that those in attendance at the festival will appreciate the thoughtful reflections he offers regarding ALS NEWSLETTER/WEBSITE Liszt’s continued and timely impact on the musical world. I urge all Lisztians near and far Edward Rath, Editor/Webmaster 2603 Coppertree Road to consider attending the Northridge festival, and I look forward to seeing you there. Champaign, IL 61822-7518 Finally, I am pleased to announce that at its meeting in Denton last year, the ALS Board [email protected] of Directors elected Alexander Djordjevic to the position of membership secretary of BOARD OF DIRECTORS the society and a member of the executive committee. Congratulations to Alex, and we Joseph Banowetz welcome him to his new position. Alex succeeds Barbara Mellon Kolb, whose tireless Paul Barnes and outstanding work as membership secretary over the years updated, streamlined, and Luiz de Moura Castro Alexander Djordjevic* enhanced the work of the society in a number of substantial and important ways. On Gabriel Dobner behalf of the board of the directors, I wish to express my thanks to Barbara for all that Alexandre Dossin* she has done for the society over the years. Barbara will remain on the board as a director, Gila Goldstein Jay Hershberger* and we look forward to her valuable input and insights for the future. Daniel Paul Horn* Geraldine Keeling Excelsior! Jonathan Kregor Barbara Mellom Kolb Justin Kolb* Elyse J. Mach Jay A. Hershberger, DMA Ksenia Nosikova Edward Rath President, The American Liszt Society Nancy Roldán Steven Spooner Helen Smith Tarchalski Alan Walker William Wellborn Richard Zimdars

*Member, Executive Committee www.americanlisztsociety.net

2 The American Liszt Society - www.americanlisztsociety.net Letter from the Editor

Fellow Lisztians! Many of you will recall that I have mentioned in this column the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria at various times during the past 11 years. In summer 2015, the program celebrated its 40th anniversary. As a former administrator of the event (for 22 years!), it was my honor to be invited to return and present a lecture with my colleague and lifelong friend, Don V Moses, whose brainchild evolved into the CMF; as well, Jane Magrath asked me to present on the subject of Liszt. Why Liszt in a program that focuses principally on the music of Haydn and the classical era? Simple: Liszt's father was in the employ of the Esterházy family, his grandfather benefited from the genorosity of the Esterházys, Franz Liszt's father played in Haydn's orchestra, Beethoven and Liszt met, and Czerny, one of Beethoven's students, was also the teacher of the young Franz Liszt. Add to this the fact that the Liszt family called Raiding (originally Doborján in Hungarian) its home, and Raiding is a relatively short distance from Eisenstadt - it made perfect sense to include Liszt! Artifacts from Eduard Liszt's apartment in Vienna, where Liszt often stayed with his uncle-cousin, were moved to Eisenstadt many years ago. We had planned to visit the so- called "Blue Salon" in the Burgenland Museum in Eisenstadt, a room where much Liszt memorabilia had been housed for many years and a source of great inspiration for the many pianists enrolled in the CMF over four decades. But, to my amazement, I was told by more than one person that the artifacts had been moved to Raiding and were now housed in the wonderful new Liszt Concert Hall, located next to the birth house of the great composer. I had to see this for myself, so my wife Lois and I drove to Raiding on one of the hottest days of the year to see this "new" exhibit. When we arrived, we spent some minutes talking with a knowledgeable young man concerning this new exhibit, but he stopped my questioning with a simple explanation: there was a new exhibit, but it contained materials not from the Blue Salon but from some artifacts that had been in storage for years because the Blue Salonhad no space for them! What a turn of events! He took us to the second floor of the concert hall, and there we saw many programs and concert bills, period furniture - including a piano of the same vintage as Liszt might have had, but one that he did not own (it is in the possession of Eduard Kutrowatz, a co-intendant of the Liszt Cultural Center). To our amazement, there was also a display that included a modern rendering of Liszt in his later years presented among some lovely and The American Liszt Society comfortable blue cushions - keeping the idea of a "blue" motif! PRESIDENT I bring this to your attention simply to say, that no matter how much we think we might Jay Hershberger [email protected] know about Liszt, there is always something turning up that comes as a surprise. Scholars like Alan Walker, Mária Eckhardt, Zsuzsanna Domokos, the late Maurice Hinson, and NEWSLETTER EDITOR others are constantly on the lookout for new sources of information, manuscripts, letters, Edward Rath pictures, and the like, to keep us at the forefront of Liszt research. 2603 Coppertree Road Champaign, IL 61822-7518 So I invite you to go to Eisenstadt, and to see the wonderful exhibits in that city as well as tel: (217) 377-3441 in Raiding. And you will be so close to Hungary that a trip to the Liszt Memorial Museum [email protected] and Research Centre in Budapest (as well as the Liszt Academy, Bartók Museum, Kodály Apartment, State Opera, etc.) can become a reality with a quick train trip or a pleasant drive. Submit change of address information to: As members of The American Liszt Society, you will be welcome and made to feel quite at MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Alexander Djordjevic home - just try to let the Liszt Museum know of your plans ahead of time! PO Box 1020 For more information about the places mentioned in this letter, please Google any item. Wheaton, IL 60187-1020 And be sure to see the lovely modern artwork of Liszt in his later years on the Picture Page tel: (630) 677-6777 in this issue. [email protected] Looking forward to seeing many of you in California in a few months! Layout: Lawrence Keach and Edward Rath Printed by Insty-Prints of Champaign, IL Ed Rath, Editor This newsletter is published twice annually, with a circulation of approximately 500 coppies per issue. An official publication of the The American Liszt Society, Inc. ©2016 ALS, all rights reserved.

Volume 31, Number 2 3 2016 ALS Festival Preview - Mike Curb College California State University, Northridge Thursday, June 2, 2016 8:00 p.m. Opening Night Recital: Mikhail Voskresensky, pianist Black Box Theatre 10:00 p.m. Opening Night Reception VPAC Courtyard Friday, June 3, 2016 8:00 a.m. Registration Music Department Courtyard 8:30 a.m. Opening Remarks Recital Hall Evgeny Kissin Medal Presentation ALS President: Dr. Jay Hershberger Interim Dean of the College: Dr. Dan Hosken Chair of the Department: Dr. Ric Alviso Artistic Director: Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov 9:15 a.m. Lecture: "Russian Pianism and Liszt: Early Recordings" Kurland Lecture Hall Marina and Victor Ledin 10:30 a.m. Master Class: Mikhail Voskresensky, pianist Recital Hall 12:00p.m. Recital: Liszt's Piano Transcriptions of Music by Russian Composers Black Box Theatre Introduction: Edward Francis Alexandre Dossin, Daniel Glover, Yun Ha Hwang, et.al., pianists 12:30 p.m. Lunch: Urbane Café Catering+ VPAC Courtyard 2:00 p.m. Lecture Recital: "Four Generations of Tcherepnins" Recital Hall Justin Kolb and David Witten, pianists 3:00 p.m. Vocal Recital: Songs by Liszt, A. Rubinstein, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov Recital Hall 4:30 p.m. Concert: Lyapunov's 12 Transcendental Etudes Recital Hall 8:00 p.m. Lecture: "Liszt and Anton Rubinstein" Black Box Theatre Terry McNeill 8:45 p.m. Concert: Works by Liszt and Rubinstein Black Box Theatre Antonio Pompa-Baldi Saturday, June 3, 2016 8:00 a.m. Registration 8:15 a.m. Opening Remarks Kurland Lecture Hall 8:30 a.m. Lecture: "Liszt and Bad Taste" Richard Taruskin 9:45 a.m. Recital: Liszt and Russian Composers Recital Hall Works by Liszt, Balakirev, Borodin, Cui, Glazunov, Scriabin, Feinberg, and Stanchinsky 11:30 a.m. Lecture: Luiz de Moura Castro Recital Hal 12:15 p.m. Lunch: Urbane Café Catering+ Music Department Courtyard 1:30 p.m. Recital: Organ Works by Liszt and Russian Composers Nordhall Hall Room 107 Timothy Howard and Ying Duan 2:30 p.m. Master Class: John Perry Recital Hall 4:00 p.m. Recital: "Two Generations of Liszt's Russian Pupils" Recital Hall Works by A. and N. Rubinstein, Hofmann, Blumenfeld, Horowitz, Siloti, Rachmaninov, Pabst, and Medtner 5:30 p.m. Voice Recital: Martha von Sabinin Song Cycle Recital Hall Larry Bakst, tenor, and Richard Zimdars, pianist 8:00 p.m. Recital: Vadym Kholodenko, pianist* VPAC Great Hall 10:00 p.m. Steinway Reception VPAC Courtyard Sunday, June 5, 2016 8:30 a.m. Lecture: "Liszt and the Russian Tradition" Recital Hall William Jones 9:30 a.m. Round Table Discussion Kurland Lecture Hall Dmitry Rachmanov, Moderator Richard Taruskin, David Cannata, Nancy Van Deusen, and Roxanne Cogan 11:00 a.m. Chamber Music Concert Recital Hall 12:30 p.m. Lunch+ 1:30 p.m. Los Angeles International Liszt Competition Showcase Recital Hall 3:00 p.m. Concerto Concert* VPAC Great Hall Works by Liszt, Rimsky-Korsakov, Scriabin, and Lyapunov Peter Klimo, Yuan Sheng, Daniel Glover, and Ksenia Nosikova, pianists 6:00 p.m. Banquet Location TBA (Schedule Subject to Change - see http://www.als2016.org/index.html for updated schedule and further details) *Tickets are $15 for each concert; +lunches are $15 each; ++Final Banquet is $55. These charges billed at registration.

4 The American Liszt Society - www.americanlisztsociety.net ALS Festival A Conversation with Dmitry

Description (continued from page 1) Rachmanov, 2016 Conference Host Other events will spotlight chamber Edward Rath: Could you tell us about DR: Music surrounded me since I first and piano ensemble music by Liszt and where you were born, your family, remember myself. My father always the Russians, as well as a recital of vocal and something about your pre-college practiced guitar around the house (we music by Liszt and Russian composers education? lived in a small “communal” apartment, a such as Borodin, Cui, Rubinstein, phenomenon characteristic of the Soviet Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninov, among Dmitry Rachmanov: I was born era). He had his like-minded peers visit others. The latter performance will be in in Moscow, Russia, into a family of a and play for each other. My mother collaboration with SongFest, a US premier mixed background. My paternal great- always bought classical LPs to which I song festival taking place at the Colburn grandfather originated from Siberia and listened. I started taking piano lessons School simultaneously with our ALS had served at one point as a deputy from the age of six and at first was not festival. Our liaison with SongFest will minister of agriculture under the last too excited about them (that may have be one of its faculty members and fellow Czar, Nicholas II. Other paternal had to do with my unenthusiastic first ALS member, Liza Stepanova. relatives included the composer, pianist, teacher). I was becoming increasingly A recital by younger Lisztians will and critic Vladimir Metzel (b. 1882) musically involved, however, and by include a showcase by prizewinners who lived in Berlin in the 1900s, knew the time I was ten or eleven, music of the Los Angeles International Scriabin and Rachmaninov, and whose became a passion, central to my cultural Liszt Competition, coordinated by the music was conducted by Koussevitzky environment and inner aspirations. From competition co-directors Geraldine Field and Nikisch. My great-great grandfather, that time on I started going to concerts, Keeling and Judith Pfeiffer Neslény. Yuly Gruenberg, was chief editor of the often several times per week, fortunate An organ recital will offer works by artistic magazine, Niva, in St. Petersburg to listen to some of the great musicians Liszt, Glazunov, Cui, and Goedike, and at the turn of the 20th century, and he performing in Moscow at the time. will feature the CSUN organist Timothy worked with Tolstoy, Chekhov, and many Howard and guest artist Ying Duan of artistic personae of the time. ER: Was there a single event or series Shanghai Normal University. My mother’s roots come from eastern of events that captured your interest Lectures will feature addresses by the European Jewry, most of whom perished in music, or someone in particular that noted musicologist and Russian music under the Nazis in World War II. Her sparked that interest? scholar, Richard Taruskin, offering an parents were of progressive political intriguing talk on “Liszt and Bad Taste,” views, leaving their familial traditions and DR: It was certainly a gradual process, and by one of ALS’s dedicated members, settling in European capitals in France subconscious at first. Of the early single Terry McNeill, expounding on Liszt’s and Belgium, where my mother was events that I can remember, one was long association with one of the greatest born. My maternal grandfather became the first big piano recital my mother romantic 19th century pianists, Anton a member of La Résistance Française took me to at the age of nine or ten, by Rubinstein, as well as others. Tenor Larry during the war. He was captured and the pianist Rudolf Kerer performing Bakst and pianist Richard Zimdars and killed by the Germans in 1942, while my Beethoven sonatas at the Great Hall will present a lecture recital on Russian grandmother and mother had managed of the Conservatory; I still cherish its composer Martha von Sabinin, a Liszt to escape to Moscow, arriving two weeks memory! Other notable artists making student and a person involved in the before Russia was attacked on June 22, lasting impression on me in my early teens founding of the Russian Red Cross. 1941. Neither of my own parents were included the pianists Maria Grinberg, The Liszt influence on Russian music musicians, although my mother has always Samson François, Stanislav Neuhaus, and musicians will also be explored in a been a passionate music lover, and my and ; the conductors Kirill panel discussion, including musicologists father used to be an amateur classical Kondrashin, Evgeny Svetlanov, and Taruskin, David Cannata, Nancy van guitarist. Gennady Rozhdestvensky; the violinists Deusen, and others. I was fortunate to spend my early and Leonid Kogan; and Piano master classes will feature the formative years at the Gnessin Special the cellists and eminent pianist/pedagogues John Perry Music School for gifted children, the Daniil Shafran, to name but a few. But and Mikhail Voskresensky working with school that brought up pianists like if I have to single out “someone in young students. Evgeny Kissin and Daniil Trifonov. particular” who captured my imagination, Please look for updates, housing The atmosphere there was highly I would have to say that the most crucial information, and further details on the competitive, it was tough to get in, but the influence of my early years was the great festival website: http://www.als2016. environment we were brought up in was , whose recitals I started org/index.html. This website includes very stimulating. Our teachers devoted attending from the age of ten. The aura the opportunity to register online. ALS their entire lives to their students; we of his hypnotic stage persona was larger members receive a discounted registration were like children to them, and they spent than life, his musical ideas were artistically fee of $150 for the conference; there is countless hours working with us and compelling, highly vivid and had a an "Early Bird" registration deadline of caring about our development. dazzling impact, and his eclectic programs February 29, 2016, for an additional $10 were multifarious. I remember for fee reduction ($140). Additional charges ER: When were you first aware of your instance the spring of 1969, when in the will be made for meals and Great Hall serious interest in music? span of a week or two, Richter performed events, payable upon registration. (continued on next page)

Volume 31, Number 2 5 the complete first book of the J.S. Bach well as personal reasons that motivated DR: If I had to name only one work, it Well-Tempered Clavier; a duo recital with me to return, be it performances or would have to be the Sonata in B Minor David Oistrakh, premiering the new recording projects. My last visit was (I am afraid I might not be very original Shostakovich violin sonata; and playing during my sabbatical semester in in this choice of mine!). Its incredible the Tchaikovsky first piano concerto, the spring of 2014 when I had my fusion of originality, being one of the all in such a memorable fashion! Later, Scriabin tour and I gave a recital at the first one-movement cyclic sonata forms, I discovered that he had performed a International House of Music in Moscow and the wealth and depth of ideas, its Schubert-Liszt recital series in the 1950s, in April of that year. philosophical content, complex yet lucid in which the first half was dedicated to and cohesive structure, and its truly Schubert and the second one to Liszt. I ER: When, where, and how did Liszt symphonic scope and innovative pianism wish I could have been there for that. A enter your musical life? make the sonata one of the pinnacles in towering figure! the world of piano literature. For me DR: I have been fascinated by Liszt personally I feel it has been too long since ER: When and why did you come from since my childhood; reading about his I worked on the sonata in my student Russia to the United States? life ignited my imagination, creating a days, and I do long to return to its riches vivid romantic image in my mind. I was sooner rather than later. DR: I emigrated to the US with my mesmerized by the romantic glamor, mother at the age of 18. My mother prodigious creativity, and magnanimity of ER: Tell us about your recordings. came from France to Russia as a child, his persona. As a growing young piano fleeing the Nazis. She always dreamed of student in Moscow, Liszt was always a DR: As far as the Liszt works, the returning to her western European roots, part of my education. I remember being only recordings I have are some live only she “miscalculated” and we ended up introduced to his works, such as the performances posted on YouTube. in New York. There I was lucky to attend Consolations, which were the first ones, My released recordings comprise two all of the city’s three conservatories, then the opus one etudes and shorter Beethoven discs, one solo (the two Mannes, Juilliard, and Manhattan, and selections from Années de pèlerinage. Later B-Flat sonatas, Opp. 22 and 106 on the study with some great teachers. My first on came the concert, transcendental, Omniclassics label) and one four-hand teacher in New York, Nadia Reisenberg and Paganini etudes and other works, project, Beethoven and his Teachers, recorded (1904 - 1983), had St. Petersburg roots. leading up to the Sonata in B minor, with Cullan Bryant on original period She studied with Leonid Nikolaev at the which I performed in my junior year at pianos from the Frederick Historical St. Petersburg Conservatory in the 1910s college. More recently – the inimitable Piano Collection, released by Naxos in along with Sofronitsky, Shostakovich, transcriptions of Schubert songs, the 2011. The latter features the complete and Yudina, all Nikolaev’s students. Funérailles, and some late works, such Beethoven piano duet output along Reisenberg was a refined pianist of as the enigmatic Bagatelles sans Tonalité. with works by Neefe, Albrechtsberger, the “old” tradition of the most noble Liszt’s latter-day experimentations in and Haydn. The rest of my CDs are musicianship, natural pianism, elegant the realms of harmony and mystical devoted to music by Russian composers: phrasing, and refined tone. Some of her spirituality, in which he foreshadowed Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Scriabin, demonstrations at the instrument still Debussy and envisioned the future, and Prokofiev on Vista Vera and Master live in my memory, and her handwritten fascinate me. At the same time, I Musicians labels. I have an all-Medtner markings remain intact in my old have never considered myself a born recording that is awaiting publication, scores. For my DMA work at MSM I Lisztian-type virtuoso, and his works and most recently I have been involved studied with another professor from the have occupied a relatively smaller part in a DVD project of recording a Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Conservatory, of my repertory compared with those by comprehensive anthology of the piano Arkady Aronov, a fine teacher and pianist, Chopin or Schumann. Over the years my works by . still teaching at the Manhattan School to fascination with Liszt has only deepened, this day. Getting back to the question in no small part through my association ER: You regularly perform as a solo and of my leaving Russia, I need to add that with the ALS, its creative environment, collaborative pianist. Do you have any it was my mother who was the engine and its wonderful members. And when plans for recitals and concerts, and does behind the whole idea of moving out I am occasionally asked to play the game Liszt have a place in them? of the USSR, and when a crack opened of naming composers of the past with in the impregnable Iron Curtain during whom I would be most inclined to meet DR: I am always in transition from the 1970s as part of concessions in the or share a meal, Liszt’s name always one performing project to another, be Soviet-US disarmament negotiations, she comes to the forefront. To me, Liszt as a it collaborative or solo programs and made a decision for us to leave. human being seems far more enticing as recordings. As a collaborative pianist, someone to get to know than nearly any I remember working on the two-piano ER: Do you often return to Russia? other musician in history. version of the Réminiscences of Don Juan, which I performed with the pianist Yoshi DR: I have been back seven times since ER: Is there a favorite Liszt work in your Nagai at Northwestern University’s Liszt 1991. Every time I had professional as repertoire? Tell us about how you came to (continued on next page) put this one work at the top of the list.

6 The American Liszt Society - www.americanlisztsociety.net Bicentennial Celebration in 2011. In my technical, emotional, intellectual, stylistic, close to my heart as it related to my solo work I have done some exclusive rhythmic, dealing with touch and tone background. Liszt has always been projects, such as the current Scriabin colors, dynamics, etc. There is a variety revered in Russia as a towering figure one, but have also been more eclectic. of issues that students have and that and a kindred spirit who supported Some of the Liszt works I would love to teachers must analyze, realizing individual Russia’s cultural origins. This goes back learn and perform include bringing back strengths and weaknesses of each student. to Liszt’s tours of Russia in the 1840s, the sonata, learning the second ballade, Some students learn quickly and can his contacts and support of Russian some etudes, to further explore Années be intellectually aware of what they are music and musicians, such as Glinka, de pèlerinage and Harmonies poétiques et doing, but emotionally they may need to Borodin, Cui, and Anton Rubinstein, religieuses, and add some late works as well. be more open and expressive. Others and his later mentoring his students may have good technical abilities, but lack such as Vera Timanova and Alexander ER: What would you recommend to self-confidence, and still other students Siloti. His music is widespread and someone in high school or college as to may have memory issues that loom large, frequently performed there by great how best to prepare for a musical career? and so on. There are as many different artists and students alike, and his piano situations for a teacher to address as there works are part of the music schools’ DR: As we know too well, the are students. curricula. There have been hundreds professional music field is saturated and It is important that all of my students of studies, books, music editions, and highly competitive, and it is not always understand that music is a spiritual art dissertations written/published. One easy to find a niche for oneself. The first and that we musicians are vessels that of the pioneering books is the scholarly thing I would ask a young person who transmit the ideas, emotions, thoughts, biographical/musicological monograph, wants to become a musician is the most and imagery that composers conceived. F. Liszt, 1811 – 1886, written by the piano essential question: “Is music something We must carry these ideas to the listening professor of the you absolutely cannot live without and audience. Our responsibility is not only Yakov Milstein and published in 1956. strongly feel you have to do as a career?”. to master the notes but also to enliven So the thematic notion of such a festival If the answer is not an unequivocal the spirit that lives behind the notes. was always dear to my heart, and it took “yes,” then I’d say it would be best to While transmitting the composers’ ideas, nine years of gestation to bring the idea look elsewhere for a career. Music each performer, whether he or she wants to fruition. requires extreme dedication, passionate to or not, transmits part of their own devotion, and a lot of sacrifice. Secondly, personality, mind, soul, emotions, and ER: And Liszt in the future? What do I would advise students to realistically temperament through the tips of their you hope for on the part of others? and objectively evaluate themselves, their fingers. By recreating what the composer natural abilities, and their strengths and said in the music, a performer puts his or DR: Liszt’s music and ideas will remain weaknesses; their career paths should be her own stamp on it. vital as long as classical music stays molded and directed to fit a line of work alive. It has to do with his genius and his for which they are best suited, be that ER: What led to your decision to host larger-than-life personality as a composer, performing, teaching, collaborating with the upcoming Liszt Conference/Festival, pianistic innovator, poet, philosopher, or accompanying others, or occupying “Liszt and Russia”? author, and humanist. The ideas he managerial or music technology fields, stood for, his advocacy for the original etc. Third, it is essential to find the best DR: It is hard to reconstruct the exact and innovative in music, his generosity schools, programs, and teachers that genesis of the idea, but I believe it was and ardent support of talent - the motto will provide an environment where first suggested and verbalized in my “genie oblige” he espoused - all these the students may best develop their conversation with Thomas Mastroianni, notions live on and they continue to fuel talents. And, last but not least, they must the late past President of ALS, at a the spirit of music and art to this day. I dedicate themselves and totally focus on reception during the 2007 ALS Festival believe The American Liszt Society and their studies, taking advantage of every at the San Francisco Conservatory. I other international organizations play a opportunity that lies along their ways. only remember that I proposed it, significant role in carrying on the Liszt I myself have been teaching piano and Tom expressed his initial interest, banner. for a few decades now. I feel that a citing a Russian ALS festival at the St. successful teacher must inspire a student Petersburg Conservatory in the early ER: In moments of relaxation and time and expand a student’s horizons. If 1990s as the precedent. I kept the idea for yourself, what other interests do you you are only teaching the notes and not alive, regularly bringing it up with Tom at pursue, such as pastimes or hobbies? the substance behind the notes, it is annual festivals. In November of 2012 superficial teaching that addresses only he was coming to Los Angeles as a judge DR: I remain an admirer of all forms of one aspect of playing. However, if you of the Los Angeles International Liszt arts. Visual arts have always been among don’t teach technique but only dwell on Competition, and we arranged for him to my keen interests; I used to draw and musical or spiritual ideas, that is simply pay a visit to our school, to inspect our paint as an adolescent, and to this day I not professional enough. There must be facilities, and to meet with our dean. The always try to visit museums and exhibits a correct balance where different aspects initial deal was firmed up, and we took it wherever I go. Poetry, literature, and of playing the piano are addressed: the from there. The idea had always been cinema are among other spheres of my (continued on page 16)

Volume 31, Number 2 7 In Memoriam - Maurice Hinson, 1930-2015 by Wesley Roberts

The American Liszt Society lost one By the time Hinson settled in the wintry climate and the seminary of its earliest supporters in the recent Louisville he had studied at the Sherwood atmosphere. To my surprise, he asked me passing of Maurice Hinson in Louisville, Music School (), the University of the next day to become both his student Kentucky on November 11, 2015. A Florida, the of Music, and assistant and his publicity assistant. My native of Florida he settled in Louisville the University of Michigan (from whence two and a half years in these capacities in 1957 and began what would be a 58- he received his doctorate). He had served introduced me to research on a level that year stint teaching piano performance, in the United States armed forces during I had not seen. I think it was his curiosity pedagogy, and literature at The Southern the Korean War, interestingly enough in to learn new things that rubbed off on Baptist Theological Seminary. He was Nancy, France, where he took advantage me, and somehow I managed to find the longest serving faculty member in the of the city’s national conservatory for answers to some of his research questions history of the institution. additional studies in piano. that seemed to have eluded him. In all Hinson’s contributions to The A focus on composers in the United likelihood this was one of the factors that American Liszt Society and to pianists States and its early colonies was also of led him a little more than a dozen years worldwide are legendary. He was an particular interest to Hinson, both in ago to ask me to bring out new editions early supporter of the Society and hosted publication and in performance. From of his reference books. its Sixth Festival at Southern Seminary the 1970s to the ‘90s he could be found The early days of my doctoral study in 1970. A few years later he founded giving lecture recitals on various aspects came as he founded the Journal of the the Journal of the American Liszt Society of piano development in this country. American Liszt Society. My future wife Sida in 1977 and served as editor for more These ranged from “Keyboard Music Hodoroaba and I fondly remember our than a decade. A lifelong researcher, in the Colonies and the United States to days helping Maurice stuff issues of JALS it was Hinson who in 1982 identified 1800” to “Style and Content in American in envelopes and putting them in the mail. Liszt’s lost Concerto in the Hungarian Piano Music, 1939 - Present.” In fall It was in fact Maurice who unknowingly Style as a work previously attributed to 1976 Hinson presented a lecture-recital brought us together, and who was one of Liszt’s student Sophie Mentor, entitled on “Piano Music in Nineteenth-Century the witnesses at our marriage a year later. Hungarian Gypsy Airs. For his detective America” at Lincoln Center in New York As a teacher one could easily sense his work on this project he received the City as part of a bicentennial series on interest in each student’s development. If Liszt Commemorative Medal from the American Music. Among his lecture a passage in the music wasn’t going right, Hungarian government. Among other recitals was one on “Hungarian Folktune he would comment about it and mark honors he received were The American Settings for Piano by Franz Liszt.” the date in the score that he discussed Liszt Society Medal and the Liszt Medal These experiences were an enormous it. It was always a good idea to have that of the Hungarian Liszt Society. influence upon his students, who now passage cleaned up by the next lesson or An indefatigable writer on piano hold academic and church-related one would certainly hear about it! literature, Hinson was the author of 14 positions around the world. The One of my duties as student assistant books, over 100 journal articles, and boundless energy with which he gave was to pick up the mail. This might seem 300+ editions of piano literature. He performances, lectures, and presentations like an ordinary task but it wasn’t for was known foremost for his Guide to the on four continents was a compelling any of Hinson’s assistants. Sometimes Pianist’s Repertoire, which he saw through characteristic that inspired amateurs I thought I should have taken my three editions plus a supplement, and and professionals alike. His love for wheelbarrow to the post office. I vividly entrusted the present writer, a former teaching was also seen in his adopted recall two consecutive days when he student, for a fourth. Additional texts hometown of Louisville. Among other received 40+ items of mail each (that’s included The Piano in Chamber Ensemble positions, he served as the first President 80 in two days!). He was rejoicing on (2 eds.), Music for More Than One Piano, of the Greater Louisville Music Teachers the third day when I arrived with only a and Music for Piano and Orchestra, each Association, Dean of the Louisville handful of mail! Maurice told me on published by Indiana University Press. Chapter of the American Guild of multiple occasions that there were two For developing pianists Hinson edited Organists, and President of the Kentucky kinds of people in the world: those who piano works from easy to highly advanced Music Teachers Association. He also held write and those who don’t. The one literature, much of which was published a special class for local piano teachers thing he didn’t have any tolerance for by Alfred, for whom he once served as known as “The Dorsey Class,” which met was someone who didn’t write. I was senior editor. Several series of collections biweekly over more than four decades shockingly reminded of this at an MTNA and anthologies appeared, including the from 1963 - 2015 for discussions and conference years ago while we were Anthology of … [with works from different performances. having lunch with colleagues. Suddenly, time periods], Masters of … [time periods, There are countless stories by students a famous Lisztian pianist (who shall countries or genres], Classical Music for the of their experiences studying under remain unnamed) unexpectedly joined Church Service, Essential Keyboard Repertoire, Hinson. I met him for the first time in us. It happened that this pianist had not and Meet the Great Composers. The works January 1977 when I arrived at Southern answered multiple letters from Maurice. of Liszt were among these publications, Seminary to begin doctoral studies. He The discussion turned lightning fast to including At the Piano with Liszt, Piano was the only person to write me from the the pianist’s negligence, and by the time Music from His Early Years, Selected three schools to which I had applied for Maurice finished dressing him down, Intermediate to Early Advanced Piano Solos, study. As a native Floridian who had just we were all shaking with indigestion! It and the Six Consolations, all published by turned 23, it didn’t take long for Maurice's was one of the few times I saw him truly Alfred. enthusiastic spirit to warm me to both angry. (continued on next page)

8 The American Liszt Society - www.americanlisztsociety.net Member News

Yet, he had a compassion for students Sophia Agranovich's recording of the campus of the University of Oregon that stretched well beyond what might Liszt's "Transcendental Etude No. 10 in in Eugene. Dossin continued "In Beall be expected. I never heard him speak ill F minor" was featured on WQXR 105.9 with Brahms" with the fourth concert or mention a fault of any student during FM and online at WQXR.ORG in New in an ambitious concert cycle featuring my years under his tutelage. He taught York City. The recording was part of the complete chamber works with piano respect and discipline without ever using Reflections from the Keyboard in a program by , a first for the those words. No one doubted Maurice’s entitled, "The Life of Liszt," hosted by University of Oregon. Three times each integrity nor his capacity to guide a David Dubal. The original broadcast on year, once each academic term, Dossin motivated student toward achievement. Thursday, January 21 was repeated on joins his UO colleagues and guests for an It was these qualities for which I Sunday, January 24. Other recordings evening of chamber music by the great hope we will remember Maurice. Yes, aired on the program included those by German composer. Repertoire for the he was indeed the most significant and Dinu Lipatti, Arnaldo Cohen, Barbara most recent concert featured Brahms's prolific writer on piano literature to ever Nissman, Evgeny Kissin (who will receive Sonata in E-flat Major for Clarinet and Piano, live. But I think it was his commitment the Medal of the American Liszt Society Op. 120 No. 2; Sonata in E minor for to excellence and his ability to see the at its June 2016 Festival in California), and Piano, Op. 38; and Trio in A minor for potential in students that kept him in Jorge Bolet, Murray Perahia, and Vladimir Clarinet, Cello, and Piano, Op. 114. Guest the classroom for a record number of Horowitz. For further information, performers for the concert included years. I believe it was his hope that each please go to http://www.wqxr.org/#!/story/ Michael Anderson, clarinet, and Steven of us would find those qualities within life-franz-liszt/ and http://sophiagranovich. Pologe, cello. These events are normally ourselves. May his legacy be honored and com. live-streamed from the UO website at treasured for the inspiration he was for all! http://music.uoregon.edu/events, which you Dr. Hinson is survived by his wife Paul Barnes has released his newest should check for details. Peggy (married 64 years; they first met in CD, New Generations: The Etudes of Philip kindergarten at age five), one daughter Glass and Music of the Next Generation on Madeleine Forte writes that a video of Susan, and four grandchildren. He was the Orange Mountain Music label. The her piano, four-hand concert with the late preceded in death by his daughter Jane, recording is available through Amazon István Nádas may be viewed at https:// who died from leiomyosarcoma in 1996. at http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Barnes- www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfYKb07bCYo, New-Generations/dp/B0160DMPGW and and her four-hand recital with Del iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ Parkinson may be seen at https://www. (Editor's note: Portions of this tribute also new-generations/id1054659002. youtube.com/watch?v=WR5keY_5YSU. appear in the European Piano Teachers The Allen and Madeleine Forte Collection Association’s Piano Journal 107 [2016]. Alexander Djordjevic was elected by the at the University of North Texas website Personal reflections were spoken by Wesley ALS board of directors as membership is http://forte.music.unt.edu/, from which Roberts at Maurice Hinson's funeral service on secretary of The American Liszt Society. you can follow links to both Madeleine's November 16, 2015.) Alex was featured in the last issue of the and Allen's websites. ALS Newsletter. You will recently have heard from Alex when he sent out notices Gila Goldstein soloed with the Israel for 2016 dues. If you need to contact Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion this him, his address is Alexander Djordjevic, past fall in a performance of the Concerto PO Box 1020, Wheaton, IL 60187-1020, for Piano and Orchestra by Yehezkel Braun and his e-mail address is lisztchicago@gmail. (1922-2014). The concert was part of com. the 2015 Annual Festival of Israeli Music. Gila was also the featured guest recitalist Gabriel Dobner played a lieder recital for the 2015 NYSMTA conference at at the Budapest State Opera with the The College of Saint Rose in Albany. She German tenor and Metropolitan Opera served on the jury at the Liszt-Garrison star, Gerhard Siegel, on December 5, International Piano Competition in 2015. The program included songs by Baltimore. Strauss, Wolf, and Schönberg. Dobner In September 2015, Gila joined and Siegel also performed this past fall in the piano faculty at NYU's Steinhardt Knoxville, Staunton (VA), and Chicago. School's Department of Music and The duo's first CD, featuring works by Performing Arts. This is in addition to Strauss, Schönberg, and Kurt Hessenberg, her teaching at University. was released by Profil Edition Günter Gila was interviewed by London-based Hänssler in 2015. Pianist magazine, which you may view in the February/March 2016 issue at https:// Alexander Dossin, vice president of www.pianistmagazine.com. Her updated Maurice Hinson. Photo courtesy of Wesley ALS, presented a concert on Monday, YouTube channel is https://www.youtube. Roberts. November 30 in Beall Concert Hall on com/playlist?list=PL33DE1B9DF338124F. (continued on next page)

Volume 31, Number 2 9 More Member News

Ian Hobson continued his series Dmitry Rachmanov has continued his wishes to thank her Lisztian colleagues of six concerts in “Scriabin Odyssey” during the composer’s and friends who have supported her entitled, "Preludes, Etudes, and 100th memorial year in 2015, performing along the way and have been part of this Variations Downtown/Uptown," with all-Scriabin recitals, giving lectures and landmark year. Projects for the immediate a performance on January 19, 2015. master classes at the American Church future include the publication of the The series began last fall at Subculture in Paris and on a tour of the United violin and piano transcriptions included in New York and continues at the Merkin Kingdom in June; at schools such as Cal the CD above. Concert Hall through April 2016. The Poly Pomona, Virginia Commonwealth concerts feature various piano works University, Ohio State University, Ohio Tatiana Shustova performed concerts in the genres cited in the series title University, James Madison University, with the Chambana Trio (the name written by composers ranging from and CUNY Graduate Center; and the derives from the cities of Champaign and Chopin and Schumann to Debussy and Illinois State Music Teachers Association Urbana, Illinois), which includes violinist Rachmaninov, and includes many world and MTNA California (CAPMT, Santa Aaron Jacobs and cellist Ka-Wai Yu. The premieres by such composers as Stephen Clara Chapter). As well, he participated all-Brahms program featured the Sonata Taylor, Robert Chumbley, and Yehudi in the San Francisco Old First Church’s No. 2 for Cello and Piano, Op. 99; Sonata No. Wyner. The most recent concert was all-Scriabin four-recital series presented 2 for Violin and Piano, Op. 100; and the Trio introduced with remarks by music critic, by the Bay Area pianists. In January 2015 No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 101. The program novelist, and librettist, Paul Griffiths. A Dmitry embarked on a DVD project was subtitled, "Summer of 1886: Brahms review of the concert may be read at of recording the Scriabin piano music at Lake Thun" and took place at Illinois the New York Classical Review website at anthology, completing the first round College, Bradley University, Eastern http://newyorkclassicalreview.com/2016/01/ of sessions at the DiMenna Center in Illinois University, and Good Shepherd hobsons. For more information about New York City, continuing with the Lutheran Church in Champaign. In upcoming concerts, please go to http:// second round in January 2016. He November, Tatiana also performed a solo ianhobsondowntownuptown.com/. also recorded a selection of Scriabin recital featuring solo music for piano by works for the Steinway Spirio recording Sibelius and Tchaikovsky. John S. Hord has been invited to system. Rachmanov was on the faculty present at the June 2016 meeting of the of summer schools at the John Perry Alan Walker attended a book launch of Texas Music Teachers Association at its Academy of Music at CSUN, and at his Reflections on Liszt in a new Hungarian convention at the Dallas Hyatt Regency the International Keyboard Institute translation. The event took place in Hotel. John's topic will be, "For Students and Festival at Hunter College (NYC). the Bartók Hall of the Bartók Institute. and Parents: At Home Preparations." He was a member of the juries of Valerie Tryon played a short Liszt recital Margaret Hord will also present at several competitions, among them the to go along with the event, including the this convention on the topic, " Stage Liszt-Garrison presented by the ALS Schubert-Liszt transcription of "Ave Deportment and Stage Etiquette." This Baltimore-Washington chapter, and at Maria," Liszt's transcription of Eduard past November John presented a lecture the Columbus State University Schwob Lassen's "Löse, Himmel, meine Seele," recital about the varied life and career of School of Music’s annual Concerto Liszt's "Au bord d'une source," and his Franz Liszt for the San Francisco Chapter Competition in Columbus, GA. Hungarian Rhapsody XV. (See page 14.) of ALS. Nancy Roldán enjoyed many William Wellborn performed with Elyse Mach recently had the eighth successes this past year, among them pianist Adam Wibrowski at the 2015 edition of her textbook, Contemporary her performance of the Ravel Concerto Festival du Chablisien in Chablis, Class Piano, published by Oxford in G, which she played in May with France, presenting a concert with University Press in New York. This 700+ Concert Artists of Baltimore, Edward music of Scarlatti, Debussy, Fauré, page book is one of the leading piano Polochick, . The performance Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, and Liszt. In texts in the country. It has been used in celebrated the tenth anniversary of the October, Wellborn presented a concert hundreds of universities nationally and Liszt-Garrison Festival and Competition. in Miami of music of Bach, Mozart, internationally and by many thousands Nancy also performed several chamber Mendelssohn, Liszt, and Alkan. José of students since its initial publication in concerts in a duo with José Cueto. She López and Wellborn joined forces for 1975. released her CD recording of Piazzolla the Alkan Fantaisie sur Don Juan, Op. 26, Elyse visited Budapest during the Here and Now by Centaur Records, for four hands, and repeated the work summer of 2015 and had the pleasure which features Nancy and José, as well the following day for the Liszt Festival of being given a private tour of the Liszt as Nancy's daughter, actor Gabriella hosted by the South Florida chapter. Museum by its Director, Dr. Zsuzsanna Cavallero, and bassist Laura Ruas, all On October 5 he lectured on "The Big Domokos. It was a heartfelt and of whom have performed numerous Jump" for the Dublin Music Exchange, memorable visit for her finally to visit times over the years in support of the and on October 9 he co-lectured with Dr. this marvelous museum and particularly Liszt-Garrison event. This recording Rosemary Hallum on "Interconnections gratifying to be given permission to play is available as a pre-release offering between Jazz, Ragtime, and Classical on Liszt's glass piano. It is a visit that all (scheduled for May 2016) by contacting Piano Music" for the Chinese Music Lisztians "...should not miss because it is Nancy at www.nancyroldan.com or by email Teachers' Association of Northern truly a treasure." at [email protected]. Nancy California. (continued on next page)

10 The American Liszt Society - www.americanlisztsociety.net Chapter News

Richard Zimdars's April CD release Baltimore/Washington Chapter New York/New Jersey Chapter on Albany Records, Piano Character (http://lisztgarrisoncompetition.org). (http://gilagoldstein.com/liszt/). Pieces from Four Continents, features two Nancy Roldán, President. Gila Goldstein, President. works submitted to the 2011 American Liszt Society Bicentennial Composition On page 13 you will find a listing of On October 8, 2015, Luiz de Moura Competition: co-first prize winner Gilad the winners and judges for this year's Castro gave this season's opening Cohen's Ballade and finalist Huck Hodge's Liszt-Garrison Festival and International concert for the ALS NY/NJ chapter. Transfigured Etudes. Excerpts from Colin Piano Competition," and also a photo This was a mesmerizing performance Clarke's review in the September/ on the Picture Page. The event, entitled of works by Mendelssohn (two Songs October 2015 Fanfare magazine include, "Magyar," included brilliant final rounds Without Words and Rondo Capriccioso), "Zimdars is a superb pianist (he retired of the competition on Sunday, October Liszt (six Consolations, three Sonetti di from the faculty of the University of 25. The high level of performance Petrarca, and the Prelude on Bach's "Weinen, Georgia in 2014 after a teaching career motivated the judges to award additional Klagen, Zorgen, Sagen,"), and a few pieces spanning some 40 years) and one is prizes. by Piazzolla and Villa Lobos. Luiz never in doubt of his advocacy." "The Through the years our themed festival dedicated the performance of the Liszt disc turns to Israel for Gilad Cohen’s programs have addressed different prelude to the recent passing of Thomas 2007 Ballade. This is the first piece the aspects of the mystery of music, a Mastroianni, Anne Koscielny, and Aldo composer wrote after moving from Israel mystery that usually brings us back to Ciccolini. It was an inspiring recital to New York in 2006. It works over our roots. "Magyar" was the perfect played to a full house. (See page 14.) a large canvas (despite only lasting ten theme that allowed us to honor folk The chapter's spring schedule of minutes), and in its exploratory nature traditions. Thus, besides traditional events includes: one might be justified in linking it to classical compositions, we featured Franz March 24 Lisa Yui, performing Chopin’s essays in this form. The musical Liszt's and Béla Bartók's works and the Schumann Fantasy and Liszt Sonata language is very different, yet Cohen various other composers' works rooted in May 19 Ory Shihor, performing always seems to seek beauty in dissonant popular traditions. The entire experience works by Mozart, Schubert, and Liszt expression. The result is a piece of rather was uplifting for all who attended the All events take place at Yamaha of nostalgic bent, and it seems perfectly event. Particularly meaningful was the New York City and are on Thursdays placed in context here. participation of past winners of the beginning at 7:30 p. m. The address "Finally, there is Huck Hodge’s competition who performed and shared for Yamaha is 689 Fifth Avenue, at the Transfigured Études (2010). Hodge studied their expertise in festival presentations northeast corner of 54th Street, third with Tristan Murail and Fred Lerdahl. and in the competition. floor. (The entrance from 54th Street The premiere of Transfigured Études was The competition continues fulfilling is between Madison and Fifth Avenues, given by Majella Stockhausen (daughter its goal of mentoring young musicians close to the corner with Fifth.). For more of Karlheinz) in Rome in 2011. There with a passion for music. The search information, you may call 212-339-9995; is no doubting the étude-like character for remarkable musicians has not been press "1" then "5." Admission: $15/$10, of the first (“Distant, like a gathering in vain. From judges to contestants, tickets available at the door with payment storm”), while the second (“Interlude I− it has been a privilege to celebrate and by cash or check (no credit cards). To Echoes”) includes a part for “whistler,” meet such artists. They are all essential reserve a seat, please e-mail Gila at taken here by Andrew Zimdars, which members of The American Liszt Society [email protected]. (You don't need to tends to shadow high-pitched lines in a family and the world community at large. buy tickets ahead of time!) rather ghost-like manner. The music is Please join me in thanking all who for the highly atmospheric, especially the third last decade have supported us with selfless Ohio Chapter. Caroline Hong, (“after ‘The Angel of the Hearth’ by Max dedication to make this "dream" possible, President. Ernst”), while the final movement is a and in welcoming the winners of the 2015 homage to Nancarrow (its title, “Omen, competition to our music-making, music- The newest chapter of The American unscroll a canon war,” is an anagram of loving family. Liszt Society presented two days of the name Conlon Samuel Nancarrow). On a related note, the cello and piano activities on Sunday - Monday, October Zimdars is simply superb in this finale, duo winners of the Liszt-Garrison 2015, 18 - 19, 2015, in commemoration of enabling this movement to bring the Christine Lee and Tong Tong, performed Liszt's 204th birthday. Activities began recital to a tremendously exciting close. November 7, 2015 in Columbia, MD. with OSU faculty musicologist Professor The recording’s sense of presence, here The audience was mesmerized by the Arved Ashby, who gave a pre-concert and throughout, brings a sense of visceral performers' fantastic music-making, talk entitled "The Two Liszts" and led closeness to the experience." for which each piece received "Bravi" a panel discussion. This was followed accolades. The concert closed with a by a concert featuring James Tocco well-deserved standing ovation. This was performing the complete Harmonies a musical experience that I will remember poétiques et religieuses. Later that evening, for ever ... beautiful, exciting, and there was a piano recital featuring Ohio moving! ALS officers and artists including Robert Shannon, Haewon Song, Eugene (continued on next page)

Volume 31, Number 2 11 Chapter News Odds 'n' Ends

Alcalay, Ryan Behan, Tyrone Boyle, Gekić. On October 16, Wellborn Future ALS Festivals Michael Boyd, R. Kent Cook, Mark De performed fantasies by J. S. Bach, Mozart, Zwaan, Matthew Gianforte, Meeyoun and Mendelssohn, including the rarely James Giles, host Park, Joel Hastings, and Victor Yeh. On heard Fantaisie on Don Juan, Op. 26 by C. 2017 - 53rd Annual Festival Monday, guest pianist Eugene Alcalay of V. Alkan, with Chapter president José "Liszt and the Orchestra" Azusa Pacific University presented a piano López. Liszt’s "Sposalizio" and "Dante April 28 - 30, 2017 master class. For more information, Sonata" rounded off the program. Northwestern University's Ryan Center please go to http://music.osu.edu/events/ Wellborn also presented a memorable for the Performing Arts, Evanston, IL faculty-and-guests-celebrating-franz-liszt. master class the next day at the Estate. Kemal Gekić’s recital on November 6 Performances featuring the Chicago Oregon Chapter. Alexandre Dossin, juxtaposed selections from Liszt’s Twelve Symphony Orchestra with Ricardo President. Transcendental Etudes (Nos. 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, Muti and Radu Lupu in works by Liszt 11, 12) with a selection of preludes and and Beethoven, and the Northwestern Student members presented the fugues from Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with Chapter's "Transcendental Etudes Pacific The FIU Liszt Festival on October 17 Victor Yampolsky in works by Liszt and Northwest Tour" the week of October included performances of transcriptions Bartók. Updates at https://www.facebook. 12 and continued Thursday, October 22, of Mozart works by Alkan and Liszt, com/LisztChicago with a celebration on Liszt's birthday via a including the "Motet" from Thamos, live-streamed concert. In November, the Concerto in D Minor, K. 466, and four-hand If you, your chapter, or your college/ performers presented concerts in Seattle, settings by Alkan ("Don Juan" Fantaisie) university/conservatory would be Portland, and Salem (OR). For more and Liszt’s version of “Der, Welcher interested in hosting an ALS Festival, information, go to http://music.uoregon.edu/ Wandert” from The Magic Flute. Kemal please contact Dr. Jay Hershberger, breaking-news/piano-students-launch-five-city- Gekić offered a bravura rendition of President of ALS, at [email protected]. nw-tour and http://pages.uoregon.edu/adossin/ Liszt’s Fantasy on Themes from Mozart's UOStudio/Transcendental_Etudes.html. "Marriage of Figaro" in the Busoni version. On October 18, soprano Hein Jung Next Issue of the Newsletter (University of Tampa) sang Liszt’s Tre San Francisco Bay Area Chapter The next issue of the ALS Newsletter William Wellborn, President. Sonetti di Petrarca and "Die Lorelei," while José López offered Alkan’s Salut, cendre du (Vol. 32 No. 1) will be mailed in August pauvre!, Op. 45 and "Scherzo diabolico," 2016. The next issue will feature an The chapter recently hosted its member article on ALS board member Luiz de John Hord for a lecture recital about the Op. 39, No. 3. The second part featured Kemal Gekić in selections of Liszt's Moura Castro in our salute to Luiz varied life and career of Franz Liszt. on his 75th birthday. We will also have The chapter will co-sponsor, along Twelve Transcendental Etudes and preludes and fugues by Bach. information about the 2017 Festival that with Old First concerts, a concert by will take place in Chicago during April of Hungarian pianist Peter Toth at Old First that year. Church on Sunday March 6, 2016. The The Newsletter is your time to shine!! announced program includes the Schubert Your professional musical and educational Impromptu in C Minor, Brahms's Variations Los Angeles activities are of interest to your fellow on an Original Theme, Liszt's Mephisto Lisztians - so send us your stories!! Waltz No. 1 and selections from Années International The deadline for all submissions de pèlerinage I, and the Bartók Suite, Op. Piano Competition: is July 15, 2016. Please send all 14. Tickets are available at https://www. correspondence to Edward Rath, Editor, sfcv.org/event/old-first-concerts/p%C3%A9ter- November 18 - 20, 2016 at [email protected]. Please be sure to t%C3%B3th include the wording ALS Newsletter Upcoming events for the spring This is one of two major competitions in the Subject line; no more, no less. include a presentation by William with which The American Liszt Society Text should be in MSWord or a similar Wellborn on historic recordings of Liszt's has a special relationship. If you or your compatible program, or as an e-mail students, and the annual Young Pianists students qualify for the competition, message. Photos, both color and black/ Play Liszt concert at the San Francisco please consider making application white, must be high resolution and sent Conservatory of Music on April 16. according to the rules available at http:// as e-mail attachments in .jpeg format. www.lisztcompetition.com/. If you know Please identify all persons in the picture!! South Florida Chapter at Florida of a talented pianist, organist, or singer Please note that names of ALS International University. José Raul who qualifies, please encourage them to members are highlighted in bold face López, President. enter. While the website has not yet been type. If you are a member and your updated for 2016, you should be able to name is not so highlighted, please contact The South Florida Chapter presented two get a good idea of what the competition the Editor. Also, websites cited are active recitals at the Deering Estate featuring is all about, and then check back as of the date of publication and may not pianists William Wellborn and Kemal periodically for up-to-date details. be "live" at a later date.

12 The American Liszt Society - www.americanlisztsociety.net Liszt Garrison winners

This is a pdf that will be sent separately American Liszt Society Baltimore -Washington Chap ter Nancy Roldán President is pleased to present the Liszt-Garrison Festival & International Piano Competition Winners, October 2015

FRANZ LISZT AWARD “Génie oblige” Christine J. Lee cello & Tong Tong piano 157

BÉLA BARTÓK AWARD Zoe Tzu-yi Chen A 152 Awarded In Memoriam Thomas Mastroianni ‘Improvisations on Hungarian Peasant Songs’

ARTIST CATEGORY COLLABORATIVE ARTISTS YOUNG ARTIST

I I I Sanghie Lee A1514 Christine J. Lee cello Tong Tong piano 157 Yuting Zhou YA154 S. Korea S. Korea China China II II II Shared Florian Streich cello Sarah Hiller piano 156 Shared prize Zoe Tzu-yi Chen Taiwan A152 Sejeong Jeong S. Korea A158 Ryan McNamara YA 151 USA HONORABLE MENTION HONORABLE MENTION Caroline Krause YA 153 Sarah Mi-Eun Kim A 1518 Clara Osowski mezzo-soprano Casey Rafn piano 155 USA USA USA USA

Best Interpretation Awards FRANZ LISZT FRANZ LISZT FRANZ LISZT Yuting Zhou YA 154 Florian Streich cello Sarah Hiller piano Shared prize Aprés une lecture du Dante Zoe Tzu-yi Chen La lugubre gondola Sonata in B minor

Sarah Mi-Eun Kim AMERICAN COMPOSERS AMERICAN COMPOSERS Rhapsodie espagnole Shared prize Shared prize Caroline Krause YA 153 Florian Streich cello Sarah Hiller piano Sonata No. 1 Op. 22 AMERICAN COMPOSER Sonata in C minor, Op. 6 - Samuel Barber Samuel Barber Sanghie Lee & Yuting Zhou YA 154 Sonata No. 3 Op. 35 Christine J. Lee cello Tong Tong piano Impronta Digitale Robert Muczynski Duo for Cello and Piano Op. 8 - Miklós Rózsa Judith Lang Zaimont White Lies for Lomax Mason Bates JUDGES 2015

PRELIMINARY - CD AUDITIONS COMPETITION OCTOBER 21-25 ADDITIONAL JUDGES Nancy Roldán, Piano/Chair Eugene Alcalay, Piano, Romania SATURDAY SPECIAL PERFORMANCES José Miguel Cueto, Violin, USA & JUDGES Gabriel Dobner, Piano, USA 2015 BÉLA BARTÓK AWARD Carolyn-Black Sotir, Soprano – Gila Goldstein, Piano, Israel

José M. Cueto, Violin Enrique Graf, Piano, Uruguay Enrique Graf, Piano Joanna Kaczorowska, Violin, Poland Kevin McMillan, Baritone, Canada Bobby Mitchell, Piano, USA Ernest Ragogini, Piano Andrea Meláth, Mezzo-Soprano, Hungary Liza Stepanova, Piano, Belarus Luiz de Moura Castro, Piano, Brazil Laura Strickling, Soprano, USA COORDINATORS Tatiana Muzanova, Piano, Russia Patricia Graham Kymberley S. Deeley Assistant Ksenia Nosikova, Piano, Russia Dmitry Rachmanov, Piano, Russia Péter Tóth, Piano, Hungary Please visit www.lisztgarrisoncompetition.org for a listing of presenters and performance dates. The Liszt-Garrison competition winners 2015 will perform during the Concert Seasons 2015, 2016, 2017

Volume 31, Number 2 13 Picture Page

Captions and pictures sent separately

A modern rendition of Franz Liszt in his later years, taken at the Liszt Concert Hall in Raiding, Austria.

Luiz de Moura Castro and Gila Goldstein after William Wellborn (L) and John Hord (R) after Program from “Book Launch of the Hungarian translation Luiz’s concert for the New York chapter in October. John’s presentation to the San Francisco chapter in of Alan Walker’s Reflections on Lisztat the Liszt Memorial November. Museum in Budapest, December 2015.

Finalists in the Liszt-Garrison 2015 International Competition: (from l to r) F. Streich, S. Hiller, C. Rafn, C. Osowsky, S. Kim, S. Jeong, Z. Chen, S. Lee, [Founder Nancy Roldán], R. McNamara, Y. Zhou, T. Tong, C. Lee, and C. Krause.

14 The American Liszt Society - www.americanlisztsociety.net Membership Updates as of February 2, 2016

DONATIONS ABOVE AND H 512-965-5588 Éva Polgár BEYOND NORMAL DUES [email protected] 606 Magnolia Street THANK YOU!!! Pianist Denton, TX 76201 H 940-465-9069 George and Wendy Calder Beatrice Gutmann [email protected] Carl DiDonato 302 W. 148th St. #4B DMA Student Jacqueline Divenyi New York, NY 10039 Patricia and Cooper Graham Shelley Hanmo Qian Beatrice Gutmann Allan Keiler 326 S. Jordan Ave. Elyse J. Mach 88 Naples Rd. #2 Bloomington, IN 47401 Georgia Mangos Brookline, MA 02446 H 440-935-3604 Louise Mangos H 617-566-4084 [email protected] Louis Nagel [email protected] Doctoral Piano Student Eva Polgar Professor of Music Robert Vogt Saddleback College Music Department Renata and Randy Yuill Ji Hyun Kim Attn: Dr. Kirill Gliadkovsky 740 Ridge Crest Ct. 28000 Marguerite Parkway Bloomington, IN 47401 Mission Viejo, CA 92692 NEW MEMBERS [email protected] W 949-582-4300 Student [email protected] Tyrone Boyle Professor 1550 E. Broad St. Yoo Kyung Kim Apt #206 607 S. Hobart Blvd. #203 Sekyeong Seong Columbus, OH 43203 Los Angeles, CA 90005 1231 Olde Henderson Square H 773-953-3563 W 213-344-8803 Columbus, OH 43220 [email protected] [email protected] H 614-625-1605 Pianist/Music Administrator Pianist [email protected] DMA Student Sung-Soo Cho Thomas Labe 11474 Euclid Ave. #327 4 Wall Mountain Trail Gang Tian Cleveland, OH 44106 Lawton, OK 73507 330 E Las Colinas Blvd #810 H 646-509-9360 H 580-713-1071 Irving, TX 75039 [email protected] [email protected] H 469-386-4544 Piano Teacher/Choir Accompanist/ Pianist/Educator [email protected] Sectionals Coach Student Mihyun Lee Alan Chow 3430 S. Cheekwood Lane Danny Zelibor 597 Plymouth Court Bloomington, IN 47401 515 West 139th St. #1D Gurnee, IL 60031 New York, NY 10031 [email protected] Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers H 317-250-4563 Teaching/ Performing University of South Carolina [email protected] School of Music Pianist Nikita Fitenko and Katerina Zaitseva 813 Assembly St. 3 Shagbark Court Columbia, SC 29208 Yin Zheng Rockville, MD 20852 W 803-777-1209 Virginia Commonwealth University H 301-230-6556 [email protected] 922 Park Ave. [email protected] Professors of Piano Richmond, VA 23284 Pianists/Teachers W 804-828-4016 Dr. Jose R. Mendez [email protected] Elizabeth Gammon 240 Claremont Ave. Pianist/Piano Professor 1010 Malvern Ave State College, PA 16801 Towson, MD 21204 H 512-965-9588 (continued on next page) H 713-823-8952 Piano Professor [email protected] University Professor Dr. Pamela Mia Paul 35 Highview Circle Amy Gustafson Denton, TX 76205 675 West End Ave. #4XC [email protected] New York, NY 10025 Pianist/Professor

Volume 31, Number 2 15 Dmitry Rachmanov (concluded)

NEW LIFE MEMBERS interests. I used to be involved with Dmitry's Discography chess, studying the game and its masters Matthew Bengston for my own enjoyment. I also like the 547 Wayfield Road outdoors, taking long walks in places I Beethoven Sonatas Op. 22 and 106. Wynnewood, PA 19096 visit. And I have to admit I am a social Omniclassic, 1998. H 610-374-6624 animal: I value interactions with people [email protected] and like to spend time with friends dear Scriabin Odyssey: Romantic to Mystic. Master Pianist/Teacher to my heart whenever I have free time. Musicians, 2005. But music remains at the forefront of my Aaron Stampfl attention. I like to go to concerts and Rachmaninov: Twenty-Four Preludes (Op. 2400 N Lakeview Ave to the opera, listen to all kinds of music, 3 No. 2, Op. 23, and Op. 32). Master Unit 1406 read about music and musicians, all of Musicians, 2005. Chicago, IL 60614 which are part of my relaxation. H 262-496-1950 Sometimes I volunteer to do music- Tchaikovsky: Piano Music. Vista Vera, 2006. [email protected] related writing projects. To give but Piano Instructor one example, some years ago I offered Prokofiev: The War Sonatas (No. 6 in A to research and pen an article for the Major, No. 7 in B-Flat Major, and No. 8 in British International Piano Magazine, to B-Flat Major). Vista Vera, 2009. UPDATED INFORMATION do a historic survey of the recordings of the Chopin Ballade in F minor. I came Beethoven and his Teachers, Music for Piano Ben and Elizabeth Arnold up with over 270 versions, historical to Four Hands. Cullan Bryant and Dmitry [email protected] contemporary, anything I could find Rachmanov, piano. Naxos, 2011. on the internet, in private collections, Alexander Djordjevic archives, libraries, etc. I compiled the New York Moments (new chamber music [email protected] recordings, listened to them (often by Los Angeles-based composers William multiple times), critiqued them, and wrote Toutant, Frank Campo, Liviu Marinescu, James Giles the article, which was published by IPM, Daniel Kessner, Dan Hosken, and Gernot 368 Woodland Road I believe in 2005. I have done several Wolfgang). The Tapestry Ensemble: Highland Park, Il 60035 such surveys over the years. Richard Kravchaak, oboe; Julia Heinen, clarinet; Ovidiu Marinescu, cello; and Caroline Hong ER: Do you ever get kidded about your Dmitry Rachmanov, piano. Navona [email protected] name, or asked if you are related to Sergei Records, 2012. Rachmaninov? Michael Kurtz Latin Romance (music for clarinet and 202-3 Burland Ave. DR: Certainly! Over the years I have piano). Julia Heinen, clarinet; Dmitry Winnipeg MB R2N 2EW been presented as, announced from Rachmanov, piano. Soundset Recordings, Canada the stage (by a slip of tongue or by 2013. H 204-294-0432 Freudian slip?) as well as from the gloss of printed posters alternatively as Dmitry Michael Lewin Rachmaninov or as Sergei Rachmanov! 32 Holman Road And of course inquiries keep pouring in Dmitry’s CDs are available through his Auburndale, MA 02466 as to the extent of our relations, to which website at http://dmitryrachmanov.com/cds. Cell: 857-205-3136 I have extemporized a variety of answers, php, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com, etc. depending on the mood of the day! Joseph Patrych [email protected] Nancy Roldán [email protected] Laura Strickling 461 Fort Washington Ave. #44 New York, NY 10033 Jose Ramon Mendez 510 Royal Road State College, PA 16801 Dmitry Rachmanov

16 The American Liszt Society - www.americanlisztsociety.net