As part of Presenting Menahem Pressler, a 2009-2010 series featuring the legendary pianist in three chamber programs, the 86-year-old Pressler will join forces with the 28-year-old cellist Gautier Capuçon for a joint recital.
They will perform four works for cello and piano: Beethoven's Seven Variations for Cello and Piano on Mozart's "Bei Männern welche Liebe fühlen" from Die Zauberflöte in E-flat Major, WoO 46; Beethoven's Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69; Schumann's Phantasiestücke for Cello and Piano, Op. 73; and Brahms's Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38.
"Meeting Gautier in Verbier, and rehearsing and playing with him, was not just a pleasure but for me the discovery of such a beautiful musical spirit," said Menahem Pressler. "Performing our program, major works that have had great performances, is a challenge worth accepting."
Gautier Capuçon said, "The first time I met Menahem was at the Verbier festival where I was playing Schumann piano quartets with him and Salvatore Accardo. From the first rehearsal, I was fascinated, in total admiration of the sound he was producing with his piano. At the concert, I could see his eyes sparkling; he was so excited to play, like it was the first time.
"And for an encore, Menahem announced to the audience that we would play for them one of the most beautiful declarations of love ever written, the slow movement of the Brahms Piano Quartet No.3, Op.60. And something very special happened – this first phrase on the cello and piano is full of love and passion and I could see it in his eyes – the relation that we had at this moment on stage was of a very rare intensity. I can't wait to meet him again on stage."
Menahem Pressler began his Metropolitan Museum tenure in 1973 with the Beaux Arts Trio, which performed at the Museum annually until 2008. In the previous programs of this season's Presenting Menahem Pressler, the pianist performed a program of piano quartets with friends, a program of piano concertos with the New York Chamber Soloists, and the Capuçon-Angelich Trio, a favorite ensemble of Pressler's, performed a concert of its own.
For tickets, priced at $45, call the Concerts & Lectures Department at 212-570-3949, or visit www.metmuseum.org/tickets, where updated schedules and programs are available. Tickets are also available at the Great Hall Box Office, which is open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5:00, and Sunday noon-5:00. Student and group discount tickets are available for some events; call 212-570-3949. Tickets include admission to the Museum on day of performance.
Menahem Pressler, founding member and pianist of the Beaux Arts Trio, which had its final performances in 2008, has established himself among the world's most distinguished and honored musicians, with a career that spans over five decades. Pressler's extensive tours of North America and Europe have included performances with the orchestras of New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Dallas, San Francisco, London, Paris, Brussels, Oslo, Helsinki, and many other cities. In addition to more than 50 recordings with the Beaux Arts Trio, Menahem Pressler has compiled over 30 solo recordings of music ranging from Bach to Ben Haim. In 2007 Menahem Pressler was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in recognition of a lifetime of performance and leadership in music. Pressler holds the rank of Distinguished Professor at Indiana University.
Cellist Gautier Capuçon has taken the international music world by storm since winning the Victoires de la Musique as "New Talent of the Year" in 2001. His collaborations include performances with Martha Argerich, Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Myung-Whun Chung, Leonid Kavakos, Katia and Marielle Labeque, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, and Leonard Slatkin. He recently made his first appearance with Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra, performing Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations and Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante; a recording of the performance was released in January 2010 on the Virgin Classics label, for which Mr. Capuçon records exclusively. His 2009 release of Dvorák and Herbert received the distinction of Editor's Choice from Gramophone Magazine. In 2008 he released Rhapsody, a disc of works by Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev with pianist Gabriella Montero. Additional releases from Virgin Classics include Haydn concertos with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Daniel Harding, chamber music of Ravel with Renaud Capuçon and pianist Frank Braley, and a recording of contemporary violin and cello duos entitled Face à Face. The 2009-2010 season brings his San Francisco Symphony debut with Semyon Bychkov and his debut at the Savannah Music Festival.
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March 3, 2010
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