About

The Piano Festival started a tradition with the Master Series several years ago and created the Music Marathon. On the Sunday of the series, we turn the entire day over to one pianist and offer them the opportunity to perform two concerts. They are asked to choose repertoire by one or two composers with whom they feel a special connection; repertoire where they can freely express their creativity. These sessions are recorded and typically released commercially. These performances are creating a contemporary standard and an archival library of modern interpretation for generation to come

2008 - Konstantin Lifschitz - BACH
The recording by Konstantin Lifschitz of Bach’s entire Well-Tempered Clavier has receiving outstanding international critical acclaim. A recent review in the Philadelphia Inquirer says, “ The Lifschitz disc isn't just a prize, it's a bargain: the entire Well-Tempered Clavier is on a single DVD - ... completely into his Bach zone. He is magnetic, his middle-weight sonority and near-infallible technique a clear prism for his personal and often profound relationship with this music. Though preludes are more often revelatory than the fugues, there's a consistency to his invention and polish that defies the live-concert circumstances.

2009 - Kemal Gekic - CHOPIN and LISZT
On March 15 of 2009 Kemal Gekic (Croatia) presented and recorded his own Musical Marathon as part of the Master Series. That afternoon he performed Chopin’s 27 Etudes and 4 Ballades and returned for an evening performance of all 12 Liszt Transcendental Etudes. Not only does Gekic posses a daunting technique, but more importantly he imbues every piece with intelligence, complete poetic vision and artistic imagination. " As if the Sonata weren't labor enough, Gekic also tackled Liszt's knuckle-busting Transcendental Etudes without a break, an even more astonishing feat. The fact that he performed these tortuous works -- among the most difficult in the piano repertoire -- virtually note perfect is a testament to his steel-fingered musicianship." Lawrence Johnson

2010 - Ilya Itin - PROKOFIEV and RACHMANINOFF
In 2010 the Music Marathon tradition continued as we devoted an entire day to a single artist in our Master Series. Ilya Itin to gave 2 performances on March 7 – an afternoon devoted to Prokofiev and an evening to Rachmaninoff's 24 Preludes! "Prokofieff’s sound is here distilled to its essence, and Itin performed like a demon possessed." Alan Becker


2011 - Misha Dacic - LISZT
The next super human artist on the list of to present (2) single composer recitals in one day, was Misha Dacic. On March 6 of 2011, Mr. Dacic performed a LISZT MARATHON - with works from the "Weimar Years" in the afternoon and later works by Liszt that same evening. "Few pianists dare attempt the Valse Infernale from Reminiscences of Meyerbeer’s Robert le Diable. This tour de force seemingly requires two pairs of hands crashing through octaves at top speed. Dacic’s display of power and sheer technique at ever-accelerating tempos was stunning and devilish indeed." Lawrence Budmen

2012 - Jorge Luis Prats - SCHUMANN, CHOPIN, SCRIABIN and STRAVINSKY
On March 4, 2012, Jorge Luis Prats gave two incredibly memorable performance. The afternoon was dedicated to Schuman with Carnival Op. 9 in the first half and the Symphonic Etudes in the second. The evening concert was crafted around three composers - Chopin's 24 Preludes, Scriabin's 24 Preludes, and Stravinsky's Petrushka. In true marathon style, Prats indulged the audience with nearly an hour of encores and a veritable master class on the repertoire. "Recently signed by Decca, Prats is very much an old-school virtuoso. His highly personal interpretation of the Chopin Preludes balanced cerebral intellect and passionate abandon. This was big-boned, romantic playing that veered to extremes of speed and volume." Lawrence Budmen