OUR 24th SEASON

PIANO CONCERTS 2018–2019

THE BAY AREA Steinway SocietyMusic You Love. Artists You’ ll Cherish. 15 Zlata Chochieva Saturday, September 15, 2018, 7:30 p.m. SEPT Trianon Theatre, San Jose

Vladimir Ovchinnikov Welcome to our 24th season. We hope that you will join us for great music 13 passionately performed. Our concert artists have played the world’s stages, Saturday, October 13, 2018, 7:30 p.m. OCT performed with renowned symphony orchestras, thrilled critics, and enchant- McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center, Saratoga ed audiences. They’ve concertized at premier venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. They’ve triumphed at prestigious international competitions including the Henry Kramer Leeds (Great Britain), Tchaikovsky (Moscow), Chopin (Warsaw), and Queen 11 Elisabeth (Brussels). Their recordings are collected by connoisseurs and Sunday, November 11, 2018, 2:30 p.m. awarded prizes by critics and by first-rank classical music publications such as NOV Trianon Theatre, San Jose Gramophone (Britain) and Diapason (France). These are artists whose careers are blossoming. They bring with them the tra- Sandra Wright Shen ditions of famed institutions such as the Juilliard School, the Moscow Conser- 08 vatory, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Coming to us from Great Britain, Rus- Saturday, December 8, 2018, 7:30 p.m. sia, Singapore, Taiwan, and the US, they are artists worth hearing in person. DEC Trianon Theatre, San Jose View the biographies and programs of all of this season’s artists on our website, steinwaysociety.com, and then subscribe. Come rebalance with Bach, celebrate with Chopin, sigh with Schubert, recharge with Rachmaninoff, and Kate Liu delight in Debussy. 12 Please let your friends know about Steinway Society concerts. Friend us on Saturday, January 12, 2019, 7:30 p.m. JAN Facebook. Visit our website’s blog. Join us in bringing exhilarating classical Trianon Theatre, San Jose music and internationally celebrated pianists to the South Bay.

BUY A SEASON SUBSCRIPTION Vyacheslav Gryaznov It brings joy to you–—and to the artists—and is the best way to support 10 Steinway Society’s ability to continue these concerts. Sunday, February 10, 2019, 2:30 p.m. BECOME A DONOR FEB Trianon Theatre, San Jose Your tax-deductible gifts make everything happen—from concerts to in- school events. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Ticket sales cover only 60% of costs. Benjamin Grosvenor 12 BECOME A BOARD MEMBER MAR Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 7:30 p.m. Volunteer board members guide Steinway Society. Join a diverse, friendly McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center, Saratoga group in keeping classical music alive in our community.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Nikolay Khozyainov facebook.com/steinwaysocietybayarea 06 TELL A FRIEND Saturday, April 6, 2019, 7:30 p.m. Share the experience. Forwarding our emails and bringing a friend to a APR Trianon Theatre, San Jose concert enrich everyone.

Charlie Albright FRONT COVER: Zlata Chochieva, © Adriano Heitman; Henry Kramer, © Janette Beckman; Sandra Wright Shen, © Sam Fu; 11 Kate Liu, © Stuart Rodgers Photography; Vyacheslav Gryaznov, © Lisa-Marie Mazzucco; Benjamin Grosvenor, © Decca Saturday, May 11, 2019, 7:30 p.m. Sophie Wright; Nikolay Khozyainov, © Teruyuki Yoshimura; Charlie Albright, courtesy of AMG MAY Trianon Theatre, San Jose INSIDE FRONT COVER: Zlata Chochieva, © Alena Berezina; Henry Kramer, © Jack Kennealy; Sandra Wright Shen, © Sam Fu; Kate Liu, © Stuart Rodgers Photography; Vyacheslav Gryaznov, © Lisa-Marie Mazzucco; Benjamin Grosvenor, © Patrick Allen Opera Omnia; Nikolay Khozyainov, © Teruyuki Yoshimura; Charlie Albright, courtesy of AMG 1 A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Dear Patrons, Much of the joy of Steinway Society Classical music has concerts comes from their intimate been a central part of settings, whose limited seating and Western culture for 500 fine acoustics allow rich enjoyment of years because it speaks the musical experience. to us—it speaks of love In addition to presenting international and sorrow, joy and pianists you would otherwise have to regret, deep longing, and travel great distances to hear, we strive welcome calm. The piano, in incarnations to make every concert include: resembling its modern form, has been a means to express these feelings for almost MEET THE ARTIST two centuries. Most of our concerts feature a post- concert opportunity to meet the artist, Treat yourself to afternoons and evenings in who signs programs and CDs, and which celebrated artists re-create these ex- poses for pictures with patrons. periences with classical piano masterpieces. Beautiful music is one of life’s great plea- PRE-CONCERT LECTURE sures. This concert series, arranged under Before each concert, a music scholar the leadership of our long-time Artistic Di- or reviewer presents a half-hour talk rector, Nancy Daggett Jensen, brings us nine exploring key listening points in the international competition-winning artists, works to be performed and their place celebrated for their virtuosity and sublime in the composers’ lives. Audience interpretations. They will perform master- questions are encouraged. works by composers from Bach, Chopin and Zlata Chochieva TOTAL CONCERT EXPERIENCE Brahms, to Rachmaninoff and Ravel. Saturday, September 15, 2018, 7:30 p.m. “the possessor of All patrons are invited to share our Take advantage of these singular opportu- Trianon Theatre, San Jose a comprehensive pre-concert lectures, complimentary nities for enjoyment. No need to travel to intermission refreshments and post- San Francisco for memorable performances. Her Chopin is so powerful Gramophone named her CD of technique who concert time with the artist. Plus, They happen here. The pre-concert talks the Etudes in the Top Ten Chopin recordings. She performed brings an inner ample free parking is available directly will highlight listening points and place on Russian television at age 12. She appears in world-famous glow to every bar. . . across from the Trianon Theatre and programmed works in the contexts of the Poetic and pianistic next to McAfee Performing Arts Center. concert halls, including the Concertgebouw and Tchaikovsky composers’ lives. Enjoy complimentary Hall. She won top prizes at 14 international competitions and command could IN-HOME SALONS refreshments at intermission. After the is regularly invited to play at leading festivals worldwide, hardly go further.” concert, come meet the artist, ask questions, In addition to public concerts, we including Lugano’s “Progetto Martha Argerich.” She is a -Gramophone and have your CDs autographed. host in-home fund-raising salons with Gilmore Rising Star and on the faculty of the Mozarteum select visiting artists. The salons are Steinway Society – The Bay Area exists to in Salzburg. first open to existing donors, and as bring great concert experiences here and J.S. BACH/RACHMANINOFF CHOPIN SCRIABIN LISZT RACHMANINOFF space allows, to all patrons. A salon to educate new generations about our rich ticket, tax-deductible contribution is musical heritage. Subscribe and save. Please required. Anna Fedorova, Yeol Eum also donate to Steinway Society to help us Son and Sofya Gulyak have been Vladimir Ovchinnikov continue these endeavors. featured in recent seasons. Saturday, October 13, 2018, 7:30 p.m. Lorrin Koran, M.D. “this most sensitive McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center, Saratoga For the Board of Steinway Society - The Bay Area and expressive The only pianist to win the top prize at both the Tchaikovsky of pianists . . . and Leeds competitions, Ovchinnikov gave a triumphant [produces] subtle SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS performance in the presence of Queen Elizabeth. One shading, clarity and thrust . . .” One of the best ways to support Steinway Society – The Bay Area is with a Season reviewer describes him as “an immaculate performer with impeccable taste.” He is Professor of Piano at the Moscow -London Daily Subscription. We offer two packages (an 8-concert and a 4-concert subscription), Telegraph which can be purchased for Seniors, Adults, or Students. Whichever you choose, Conservatory. He appears with leading orchestras such as you are supporting the ongoing enjoyment of classical music masterworks in our the Chicago Symphony, and the Moscow, St. Petersburg, BBC, and Royal Philharmonics, working with top conductors such community, played by celebrated international artists, many of whom make their as Sir Simon Rattle and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Bay Area debut on our stage. RACHMANINOFF RACHMANINOFF/WILD

2 STEINWAYSOCIETY.COM Zlata Chochieva, © Andrej Grilc ORDER NOW 408-990-0872 3 Henry Kramer Kate Liu

Sunday, November 11, 2018, 2:30 p.m. “Pianist Henry Saturday, January 12, 2019, 7:30 p.m. “She is a pianist Trianon Theatre, San Jose Kramer pulled Trianon Theatre, San Jose worth leaving home Pianomania found his performance of Chopin’s Fourth Ballade off a thrilling At age six, Singapore-born Liu was admitted to Yamaha to hear.” “close to the perfect conception of this masterpiece.” Kram- performance . . . he Music School’s gifted music program and performed with -Washington Post er won top prize at the 2015 Honens and the 2012 China dazzled the ear.” Lang Lang at 14. She has won numerous awards, including Shanghai competitions, and Second Prize at the 2016 Queen -Cleveland Classical First Prize at the New York and the Asia-Pacific International Review Elisabeth. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Concert- Chopin Competitions, and Bronze Medal at the Fryderyk gebouw, and Music@Menlo. He is completing a doctorate at Chopin Competition in 2015, where radio listeners voted her Yale and is Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Best Pianist. She appeared on PBS’s From the Top at Carnegie Missouri Kansas City Conservatory. Naxos recently released Hall and has concertized in Poland, Japan, Korea, and the US. his CD of Liszt oratorio transcriptions. She studies at the Curtis Institute.

LISZT SCHUBERT SCRIABIN DEBUSSY J. S. BACH CHOPIN FRANCK

Sandra Wright Shen Vyacheslav Gryaznov

Saturday, December 8, 2018, 7:30 p.m. “an arsenal of color Sunday, February 10, 2019, 2:30 p.m. “transcended Trianon Theatre, San Jose and interpretive Trianon Theatre, San Jose technique and A Bay Area treasure, Steinway Artist Shen has thrilled au- skills that set her A critic noted “Gryaznov’s outstanding virtuosity and emerged a musician diences at Kennedy Center and the Forbidden City Concert among the masters creative style left the audience spellbound.” Gryaznov has of impeccable taste.” Hall. She won First Prize at the Hilton Head, the Mieczyslaw . . . a musician of won six First and Grand Prizes in piano competitions, and -G. Lemco, Peninsula Reviews Munz, the International Piano Competition of France, and first rank. ” has performed throughout Russia, Ukraine, Asia, Europe, the Taiwan National Piano Competition. She holds Bachelor’s -G. Lemco, Peninsula and the US as soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician. Reviews and Master’s degrees from Peabody Conservatory and is a He has produced numerous videos for Japan’s NHK. His Distinguished Visiting Professor at Furman University. In transcriptions are popular worldwide and are published by 2017–18, she is Artist in Residence with the Charleston Schott. He records for Melodiya and is on the faculty of the Symphony Orchestra. Moscow Conservatory and Kurashiki Sakuyo University.

J. S. BACH MOZART CHOPIN LISZT MESSIAEN TCHAIKOVSKY RACHMANINOFF

Kate Liu, © Stuart Rodgers Photography 4 STEINWAYSOCIETY.COM Henry Kramer, © Vanessa Briceño; Sandra Wright Shen, © Sam Fu Vyacheslav Gryaznov, © Lisa-Marie Mazzucco ORDER NOW 408-990-0872 5 Benjamin Grosvenor Charlie Albright

Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 7:30 p.m. “If you haven’t Saturday, May 11, 2019, 7:30 p.m. “Albright is among McAfee Performing Arts and Lecture Center, Saratoga heard him, hear him Trianon Theatre, San Jose the most gifted The Chicago Tribune marveled at “his combination of poet- now … Here was American pianist, composer, and improviser Albright has musicians of his ry and power.” At age 19 he became the youngest British exquisite dynamic been praised for his “jaw-dropping technique and distinctive generation.” musician ever signed by Decca Classics. One of the world’s control, crisp musicality” by the New York Times. He won the 2009 Young -The Washington Post most sought-after pianists, he has worked with esteemed articulation and Concert Artists International Auditions and has performed conductors including Maestros Ashkenazy, Chailly, Dutoit, sustained lyricism with the BBC Concert Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and Nagano. He has been featured in two BBC documenta- … the standing and Boston Pops, and at venues worldwide. He works in all ries. His first CD album won the Gramophone award for best ovation was well genres, including with Bobby McFerrin, Joshua Bell, and Yo- instrumental album of the year, and his album “Homages” deserved.” Yo Ma. He won a 2014 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and holds won the Diapason d’Or. -LA Times a Master’s from the New England Conservatory. SCHUMANN JANÁCEKč PROKOFIEV BELLINI/LISZT SCHUBERT ALBRIGHT J. STRAUSS II/SCHULZ-EVLER KAPUSTIN CHOPIN

Nikolay Khozyainov

Saturday, April 6, 2019, 7:30 p.m. “The Music Trianon Theatre, San Jose World is taking The New York Times praised his “stunning virtuosity and note of Nikolay prodigious technique” and audiences agree: Nikolay Khozyainov’s Khozyainov’s sold out concerts include Carnegie Hall, Lon- stunning virtuosity don’s Wigmore Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and and prodigious Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow. Born in the Russian Far East, technique.” he made his concerto debut in Moscow Conservatory’s Great -New York Times Hall at the age of seven, and later studied at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Of his first CD Fanfare said “The possibilities for his artistry seem almost limitless.”

CHOPIN BEETHOVEN SCHUMANN

Benjamin Grosvenor, © Patrick Allen Opera Omnia 6 STEINWAYSOCIETY.COM Nikolay Khozyainov, © Teruyuki Yoshimura Charlie Albright, courtesy of AMG ORDER NOW 408-990-0872 7 DONORS AND SPONSORS COMMUNITY OUTREACH 2018-2019 TICKET ORDER FORM Steinway Society – The Bay Area is The concert and school programs of Subscribers get priority seating. Subscribe now to get the concerts you want, the best committed to bringing classical music seats, and complimentary ticket exchange. Steinway Society – The Bay Area depend to young people in our public schools. on the support and donations of our Grade K through 12 assemblies allow STEP 1 CONTACT INFORMATION friends. We are a non-profit, tax-exempt students to experience the wonders organization established under Internal of classical music, and to interact with Revenue Code section 501(c)(3), with Tax the musicians. Performers include NAME ID 77-0442110. All donors and concert local artists, advanced San Jose State ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP sponsors will be listed on our website and University students, and international in our concert programs unless otherwise concert pianists such as Sandra Wright PHONE (PRIMARY) EMAIL (NEVER SHARED) requested. Please contact us at office@ Shen. steinwaysociety.com if you would like to o WHEEHCHAIR SEATING NEEDED o CHECK HERE IF YOU WISH TO RETAIN YOUR CURRENT SEATS In the 2017–2018 season we reached meet with a board member regarding a more than 2,000 students with school grant or donation. Donations to our newly STEP 2 SELECT SERIES assemblies and individual classroom established Artists’ Fund will allow us to Pick Series-8 and save 25% per subscription • Pick Series-4 and save 10%–15% per subscription. presentations. We are building a multi- bring artists whose fee exceeds our usual faceted relationship with the West FULL SERIES (8 CONCERTS) financial capabilities. To make a donation, Valley College Department of Music. SENIOR*/ visit steinwaysociety.com, and click During the concert season, we may give SEATING SECTION ADULT # TICKETS $ TOTAL STUDENT # TICKETS $ TOTAL Donate. students and teachers complimentary FRIEND ($50 - $199) tickets and always offer $10 student A $360.00 $310.00 rush tickets for artists’ concerts. Our MEMBER ($200-$499) $300.00 $270.00 springtime “Young Artists Concert” B SUSTAINING MEMBER ($500-$999) showcases outstanding local piano C $240.00 $225.00 students. SPONSOR ($1,000 - $2,499) MINI SERIES (4 CONCERTS) This outreach program is made possible PATRON ($2,500-$4,999) $200.00 $180.00 in part by donor support. Please A PRESENTER ($5,000+) consider adding a tax-deductible B $170.00 $150.00 contribution to your ticket order to support our concert and community C $145.00 $125.00 SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS outreach programs. Section A = center left & left Section B = center right, right aisle, left rear Section C = right-hand rows *Senior = 65+ Support the masterful performance of great classical piano music here, in our STEP 3 SELECT PIANIST(S) STEP 4 TOTAL THE ORDER community, by purchasing a season CONTACT US Mark your Series-8 or Series-4 choices. subscription. TICKET PURCHASE TOTAL: $ * Reserve your favorite seats for all your Call: 408-990-0872 o #1 Zlata Chochieva *TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFT: $ concerts Mail: Steinway Society – The Bay Area o #2 Vladimir Ovchinnikov * Exchange tickets (available only to PO Box 112370 o #3 Henry Kramer POSTAGE AND HANDLING: $ 5.00 subscribers) Campbell, CA 95011-2370 o #4 Sandra Wright Shen GRAND TOTAL: $ * Save up to 25% (over single ticket prices) Web: www.steinwaysociety.com o #5 Kate Liu *Ticket sales cover only 60% of concert and community * Receive invitations to In-Home Salons o #6 Vyacheslav Gryaznov and other events outreach costs. Please consider adding a tax-deductible gift o #7 Benjamin Grosvenor of $50 or more. Thank you. * Know that you are supporting these o #8 Nikolay Khozyainov world-class pianists in a substantive way o #9 Charlie Albright FULL SEASON – 8 CONCERTS

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Albright • Bach • Beethoven • Bellini • Chopin • Debussy • Franck • Janácekč Kapustin • Liszt • Messiaen • Mozart • Prokofiev • Rachmaninoff • Schubert Schumann • Scriabin • Strauss II • Tchaikovsky • Wild

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Concert Pianist Charlie Albright, © TC Elofson