Posted on Wed, Jun. 02, 2004

Steinway Society to expand its offerings

2004-05 Piano Series Includes ‘Americana,’ Brazilian Jazz Shows

By Richard Scheinin
Mercury News

Some of the most exciting classical music performances in the Bay Area this past year happened in downtown San Jose, where the Steinway Society presented a series of mostly sold-out piano recitals at Le Petit Trianon. Olga Kern, who recently performed at Carnegie Hall, was there, as was Jon Nakamatsu and Robert Schwartz, a specialist in French atmospherics.

Next season, Steinway Society of the Bay Area is expanding the series from six programs to nine. The core series of six recitals, concentrating on traditional repertoire, will feature well-known soloists, including Stephen Prutsman, Barbara Nissman and Nakamatsu. An additional three concerts will focus on living composers George Crumb and John Adams; on Gershwin, ragtime and other "Americana"; and on Brazilian jazz.

"We're trying to broaden our presentation," says Norval Nelson, president of Steinway's Bay Area chapter. "The fact that our concerts are selling out -- it allows us to expand the series with more confidence.''

This will be the fourth year the society presents a full subscription series at the Trianon. It offered its first recital there in 1994.

The 2004-05 series at Le Petit Trianon, a small hall with excellent acoustics, begins Sept. 26 with a recital by Prutsman, a versatile pianist who is co-artistic director of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Gwendolyn Mok and Mack McCray offer a duo piano recital on Nov. 7; Nakamatsu, a San Jose native with an international career, performs Jan. 8 and 9; Nissman, famous for her interpretations of Prokofiev and Ginastera, on Feb. 12 and 13.

A "Young Artists Concert," featuring as yet unnamed winners of Bay Area piano competitions, is scheduled for March 13. Kevin Kenner, who won national and international Chopin competitions in 1990, performs May 7.

The additional concerts are by Andrew Russo, a Crumb specialist, on Dec. 12; Paul Bisaccia, who performs the music of his PBS special, "The Great American Piano," on April 9; and Weber Iago, an expert Brazilian jazz player who will perform some of his original works, on June 11.

Subscription tickets are available for all nine programs, or for the core six. Individual tickets ($35 general admission; $25 students) are available for all the recitals.

Tickets and information: 408-295-6500 or www. steinwaythebayarea.com. For information on Le Petit Trianon, 72 North Fifth St., San Jose: www.trianontheatre.com.