“Celebrating Liszt and Hungarian Connection” Concert 11/14/11

November 14, 2011

I had a fantastic time performing chamber music this afternoon at Occidental College! As a musician it is a great joy to play chamber music with wonderful friends. Robert Gupta and Johnny Lee, violins, John Hayhurst, viola, David Garrett, cello, and me on piano, performed Schumann Piano Quintet last year, and we carried our team to Dohnanyi Piano Quintet Op. 1 this year. It was written when Dohnanyi was 18 years old, and Brahms promoted it in Vienna. Even Brahms said “I could not do better…”. Of course Brahms was promoted by Schumann. So a musical chain continued. It is a beautiful piece, fun to play and to listen. I truly enjoy playing with this group. They are great musicians and fun to chat. I started my solo piano with Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 because we are celebrating Liszt’s bicentennial year. Dohnanyi’s father was a amatur cellist, and he played with Liszt in 2 occasions. And both Liszt and Dohnanyi were amazing piano virtuosos, great composers, thoughtful educators, and from Hungary. Now you know the reason of the title. I am heading to Japan on this Wednesday for the benefit concert.