March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 41 F

Old World meets New World with on January 23rd in Annapolis

On January 23, 8PM Puerto Rican violinist José Miguel Cueto andArgentine pianist Nancy Roldán offer the music of Mozart, Poulenc, Piazolla andothers in a concert entitled “From Vienna to Buenos Aires." Their old worldto new world musical journey features Classical, late Romantic, Post Impressionist,and Tango music along with a world premiere by a Baltimore composer. Theconcert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA),333 Dubois Road. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, visitwww.uuannapolis.org (see slider) or call 410-266-8044.
On January 23, 8PM Puerto Rican violinist José Miguel Cueto andArgentine pianist Nancy Roldán offer the music of Mozart, Poulenc, Piazolla andothers in a concert entitled “From Vienna to Buenos Aires.” Their old worldto new world musical journey features Classical, late Romantic, Post Impressionist,and Tango music along with a world premiere by a Baltimore composer. Theconcert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA),333 Dubois Road. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, visitwww.uuannapolis.org (see slider) or call 410-266-8044.

On Friday, January 23 at 8 pm, Puerto Rican born violinist José Miguel Cueto and Argentine pianist Nancy Roldán will perform the music of Mozart, Poulenc, Liszt, John Williams, H. Andrew Rieger and Astor Piazolla in a concert entitled “From Vienna to Buenos Aires.” Individually and as a duo the artists have performed throughout the world to great critical acclaim. Alex Ross of The New York Times wrote “The Cueto- Roldán duo makes an impression foremost with its large and luxurious tone,” while The Washington Post observed that “Cueto and Roldán made a vivid impression… left a profound effect.” The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA), 333 Dubois Road. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, visit www.uuannapolis.org (see slider) or call 410-266-8044.

This program is part of the “Fourth Friday Concert Series with Brian Ganz and Friends,” offered monthly to benefit the UUCA’s ministry and programs. “These two incredible musicians make magic together,” Ganz said. “You can tell they have been playing with each other for decades, the way they breathe together. José makes me wish I played the violin!” Argentine composer Carlos Guastavino, whose works the duo has performed, offered his observations in a personal note to the duo, praising their “noble interpretation, each one with mastery, and both in perfect communication to shape each musical idea. Your wonderful innate musicality creates an expressive, stirring performance.”

The concert is divided into two halves entitled, respectively, “Old World” and “New World.” Throughout the evening the music performed will trace the connections between these two worlds. The program begins in old world Austria with Mozart’s big, radiant Sonata in B flat, K454 and then moves to Hungary with a rarely heard work of chamber music by Franz Liszt, the Elegie No. 2. On to Paris and the music of one of France’s greatest composers, Francis Poulenc. The duo will perform Poulenc’s masterful, electrifying Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 119.  Poulenc, himself a pianist, was a leading member of Les Six, a group of French composers inspired by Erik Satie to lead music away from late Romanticism and Impressionism and chart a new course for the 20th century. The Poulenc Sonata is rarely performed despite its status as one of the greatest works for violin and piano of the century.

The second half of the program, entitled “New World,” begins with a work many members of the audience will recognize, by the great composer for film, John Williams. The duo will play a movement from the suite of works adapted from Steven Spielberg’s film Schindler’s List.  An exciting world premiere follows, with a work of composer H. Andrew Rieger entitled Scherzo. The duo has recently recorded music of this Baltimore based composer.  Finally, on to Buenos Aires and the music of Astor Piazzolla, an Argentine composer and bandoneon player (an instrument related to the accordion that originated in Germany but became popular in Argentina).  Piazzolla revolutionized the traditional tango, incorporating elements of jazz and traditional music. Among the pieces the duo will perform are Las Cuatro Estacionones Porteñas (The Four Buenos Aires Seasons) and Allegro Tangábile, both transcriptions for violin and piano by Nancy Roldán. 

José Miguel Cueto came to the US on full scholarship to study at the Peabody Conservatory. Today he is concertmaster of the Concert Artists of Baltimore Orchestra, and serves on the faculty at The Peabody Institute, The Catholic University of America, and St. Mary’s College of MD. He has toured extensively as chamber musician and soloist with orchestras in Hungary, Slovakia, China, the Czech Republic, Russia, and the Americas and was a guest in international festivals in Puerto Rico, France, and Italy. His recordings include concerti with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra of Russia and with Concert Artist of Baltimore for the Marquis and Sonora labels.

Nancy Roldán has concertized extensively as recitalist, collaborative artist and soloist and is acclaimed for her excellence and ability to “breathe life into the score.”  She has performed in international festivals, at the Kennedy Center, Weill-Carnegie Hall, and Austria’s Bosendorfer Sall among other venues.  Special performances include Homage to Casals UPR, Peabody’s film “The Mind of Music,” and The Golden Age of Tango at the Library of congress.  Her performances have been broadcast live by NPR-Argentina; WYPR, WQXR, WVIA, COPR, WETA, and NYPR in the US.  She has recorded for Centaur Records and other labels. After 30 years of service, Roldán retired in 2007 from The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University faculty. She serves on the board of The American Liszt Society, presiding over its Baltimore-Washington Chapter, and is founder/director of the Liszt-Garrison Festival & International Piano Competition held at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

The January 23 concert kicks off the second year of the Fourth Friday Concert Series at the UU church, held monthly January through November. Tickets are $15 individually, or a “Friday Five Pack” of tickets can be obtained at the door for $60 or $12 a concert. The “Five Pack” may be used by an individual to attend five concerts or by a group at a single concert. The February 27 concert will feature pianist Brian Ganz offering a Chopin Celebration.  After a selection of Chopin compositions, Mr. Ganz will take Chopin requests.  The March concert will feature pianist Eliza Garth in a performance of John Cage’s masterpiece, Sonatas and Interludes. See www.uuannapolis.org for details and weather cancellations and www.tinyurl.com/UUCA-concerts for future programming.

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