For this week’s edition of the ASCAP Deems Taylor Virgil Thomson Award winning program Between the Keys, the Classical Network’s Artist-in-Residence Jed Distler has put together an interesting program, divided into two parts.
“We start with a monumental work by the composer/jazz pianist Fred Hersch, a set of variations based on a Tchaikovsky theme,” says Distler. “Fred wrote it for a wonderful pianist, Natasha Paremski, who recently recorded the work for the Steinway & Sons label, and I thought I’d share this terrific new release with listeners.”
The show’s second part is given over to Schumann’s complete Fantasiestücke Op. 12, but with a slight twist. Each of the eight movements features a different woman performing. “We’ll hear eight pianists from different generations and backgrounds.,” Distler explains. “You’ll have to tune in for more detail about their careers and so forth, but I can give you the lineup of artists featured in order, one movement per pianist. In other words, eight movements, eight pianists. You’ll hear Annika Treutler, Agnelle Bundervoët, Reine Gianoli, Ania Dorfmann, Klara Würtz, Imogen Cooper, Martha Argerich, and Lara Downes. Oh yes, Angela Hewitt shows up for the encore!.”
Tune in Tuesday at 10 PM for Between the Keys, an exclusive production of The Classical Network and WWFM.org