The late Uruguayan-born pianist Dinorah Varsi (1939-2013) would have turned eighty this year, and to celebrate this milestone, the Classical Network’s Artist-in-Residence Jed Distler devotes this week’s episode of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Virgil Thomson Award winning program Between the Keys to Varsi’s artistry, with special guest Alberto Reyes, a fellow Uruguayan-born pianist who was Varsi’s lifelong colleague and friend.
“Dinorah Varsi is not a name known to American music lovers, probably because she did not perform in the US after a certain point,” explains Distler. “Yet she had quite an active career in Europe, both in concert and as a teacher. Several years ago a mammoth box set appeared, containing nearly all of her studio recordings, numerous live and radio performances, and several DVDs featuring Varsi in concert and conducting master classes. I was impressed by the range of Varsi’s repertoire, her focused integrity, and the freshness of her interpretations. She was a great musical force, and her artistry deserves a much wider audience.”
Pianist Alberto Reyes is no stranger to Between the Keys, having last appeared in the program in 2017 for a centenary tribute to his teacher and mentor Sidney Foster. “During a break in the Foster program, I asked Alberto if, by any chance, he had known Dinorah Varsi while growing up in Montevideo,” said Distler. “Indeed, he had. So it made perfect sense for us to plan another program together, this time in tribute to Dinorah Varsi, featuring some of her most memorable performances.”
Tune in Tuesday at 10 PM for Between the Keys an exclusive production of The Classical Network and WWFM.org