New Music Season Opens with Program of Romantic Piano Works

The Music Department at Mary Baldwin University is pleased to announce the first Sunday Recital of the season, featuring acclaimed pianist Jeremy Thompson, at 3 p.m. on September 13 in Francis Auditorium. The program includes Romantic piano works by Scriabin and Liszt.

“We are delighted to feature Jeremy Thompson on our opening concert,” said Lise Keiter, chair of the Department of Music at Mary Baldwin. “He has chosen a wonderful program, which audiences will find very appealing.” The recital includes well-known works, such as the beautiful Vallée d’Obermann of Franz Liszt, along with Scriabin’s exciting Third Sonata.

“The Scriabin pieces are full of haunting melodies, and they display an interesting mix of styles,” says Thompson. “One can hear hints of Chopin and Debussy as well as the pathos typically associated with Russian composers, such as Scriabin’s contemporary, Rachmaninoff.” He further explains that “the first half of the program is actually part of the last program Scriabin played of his own music in his lifetime.” Thompson recently recorded Scriabin’s complete final program in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the composer’s death. He goes on to explain that “Liszt has long been one of my favorite composers to play. I remember the first time I heard Vallée d’Obermann on a recording played by Sviatoslav Richter, and I have always wanted to learn this piece.”

Thompson has performed widely throughout North America and in Europe. He has been consistently praised for his superlative musicianship and impressive scope of repertoire, thrilling audiences with his virtuosity and the emotional and intellectual depth of his playing. Originally from Canada, he furthered his studies at McGill University in Montreal, studying with Marina Mdivani (who was a student of the legendary Emil Gilels).

Mary Baldwin’s Sunday Recital Series also includes performances by pianist Lynne Mackey (November 1), flutist Erin Murphy with pianist Lise Keiter (November 15), sopranos Anne Wick and Kathleen Bell (February 7), violist Johanna Beaver (February 28), and the Madison Duo, violinist Jeannette Jang and cellist Adam Carter, (April 10). The Carl Broman Concert series opens with the award-winning Lark String Quartet at 8 p.m. on September 28.

Single tickets for the September 13 concert may be purchased at the door, and are $5 for the general public and $4 for students and seniors (free for Mary Baldwin students). Season tickets are also available. To purchase tickets online or find more information, visit https://go.marybaldwin.edu/arts/musicatmbc/ or call 540-887-7294.