American pianist Jeremy Denk will take the Lyric Theatre stage on March 24 at 8 p.m., presenting a compelling program featuring the works of Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms, infused with his fresh interpretation of the classical pieces. Denk’s performance is presented by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech in partnership with Virginia Tech’s Department of Music and the School of Performing Arts and Cinema.

Denk is known as a persuasive artist with a broad and thought-provoking repertoire. He has appeared as a soloist with many major orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and London.

An avid chamber musician, the pianist has most recently spent time touring with violinist Joshua Bell. Their recording of works from Cesar Franck, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Maurice Ravel, “French Impressions,” was recently released on the Sony Classical label and received the 2012 Echo-Klassik award. In 2012, Denk made his debut with Nonesuch Records with a pairing of György Ligeti’s highly complex “Études” and Beethoven’s final piano sonata.  The pianist says he also plans to record Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” for release on the label.

Denk has a strong attachment to the music of American modernist composer Charles Ives, and his recording of Ives’s two piano sonatas has received numerous accolades. He was recently invited by Michael Tilson Thomas to appear as a soloist in the San Francisco Symphony’s American Mavericks Festival, where he recorded Henry Cowell’s piano concerto with the orchestra. Denk has cultivated relationships with many living composers, and has several commissioning projects currently in progress.

He has appeared at the Italian and American Spoleto Festivals, and the Santa Fe Chamber Music, Verbier, Tanglewood, Aspen, and Mostly Mozart Festivals, and has spent many summers at Vermont’s Marlboro Music School. He is slated to perform at and curate the 2014 Ojai Music Festival, where he will also compose the libretto to a semi-satirical opera.

After graduating from Oberlin College and Conservatory with concentrations in piano and chemistry, Denk earned a master’s degree in music from Indiana University, where he was a pupil of György Sebök, and a doctorate in piano performance from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Herbert Stessin.  Denk’s widely read blog, “Think Denk,” is frequently referenced by many in the music press and industry.

Tickets

Tickets for the Denk performance are $30 for general public, $24 for seniors and Virginia Tech faculty and staff, and $10 for students and youth 18 and under (not available online). Tickets can be purchased online; at the Lyric Theatre box office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; or by calling 540-951-4771.

 

 

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