SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC HOSTS AMERICAN LISZT SOCIETY FESTIVAL MAY 30-JUNE 1

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1 MEDIA CONTACT Sam Smith FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SAN FRANCISCO, May 9, 2013 SAN FRANCISCO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC HOSTS AMERICAN LISZT SOCIETY FESTIVAL MAY 30-JUNE 1 Noted scholars and performers from around the world assemble at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music this month for the American Liszt Society Festival, a three-day symposium of concerts, recitals and lectures. This year s festival, Franz Liszt: Anniversaries and Connections, pays tribute to composers who strongly influenced Liszt, marking the bicentennials of Liszt contemporaries Charles-Valentin Alkan, Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, as well as the 150 th anniversary of composer and conductor Felix Weingartner. Festival Director and Conservatory faculty member William Wellborn says, Liszt encountered nearly all of the important musicians of his day and lent his own particular brand of generosity and support to many of them... Throughout the festival, lectures and concerts examine Liszt s connections to these and other musical figures, many renowned, others barely remembered. The festival is co-hosted with the Wagner Society of Northern California. Concert highlights include distinguished performers from four continents and winners of the 2012 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition performing music by Liszt and his four contemporaries, including transcriptions of their works by Liszt. Events are open to the public. Tickets for individual events are $10 general admission and will be available at the door. Registration for the entire festival is $125 ($100 for ALS, CAPMT and MTAC members) and a one-day registration is $50. All events take place at 50 Oak Street, San Francisco. A detailed schedule of concerts and lectures is available at For current information on all Conservatory concerts, visit (more)

2 About the San Francisco Conservatory of Music: Founded in 1917, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music is the oldest conservatory in the American West and has earned an international reputation for producing musicians of the highest caliber. Notable alumni include Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Jeffrey Kahane, Aaron Jay Kernis and Robin Sutherland, among others. The Conservatory offers its approximately 400 collegiate students fully accredited bachelor s and master s degree programs in composition and instrumental and vocal performance. Its Preparatory Division provides exceptionally high standards of musical excellence and personal attention to more than 580 younger students. The Conservatory s faculty and students give nearly 500 public performances each year, most of which are offered to the public at no charge. Its community outreach programs serve over 1,600 school children and over 11,000 members of the wider community who are otherwise unable to hear live performances. The Conservatory s Civic Center facility is an architectural and acoustical masterwork, and the Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall was lauded by The New York Times as the most enticing classical-music setting in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, visit About the American Liszt Society Founded by David Kushner, Fernando Laires and Charles Lee, the American Liszt Society was incorporated in The purpose of the Society is to promote scholarship and general understanding of the full creative and historical significance of Franz Liszt on the education and development of both the composition and performance of music throughout the Western World. Each year ALS festivals have presented member talent and outstanding guests celebrating Liszt, his influence and his ideals. Throughout its history, the Society has endeavored to bring the ideals and philosophy of Liszt into the contemporary setting to aid and to serve colleagues and to promote high standards. The membership has been comprised primarily of musicians, but members have come and continue to come from scores of other professions (for example, medicine, business, journalism). As Liszt "hurled his lance into the future," the Society strives to perpetuate and more fully to understand Liszt's contribution and special message. CALENDAR EDITORS: Thursday, May 30, 9:45 a.m., Concert Hall CONCERT: In the Shadow of Liszt Music of Charles-Valentin Alkan ( ) Trois petites fantaisies, Op. 41 José López (Florida International University) Esquisses, Op. 63 William Wellborn (San Francisco Conservatory of Music) Marche, Op. 40 No. 1 in A-Flat Major Gwendolyn Mok (San José State University) and William Wellborn Les mois, Op.74; Recueil de Chants, Op. 38 No. 2; Quasi-caccia, Op. 53 Gregory Allen (University of Texas-Austin) Thursday, May 30, 11:15 a.m., Concert Hall LECTURE: The premiere of Lohengrin under Liszt in Weimar, August 28, 1850 Geraldine Keeling Thursday, May 30, 12 p.m., Concert Hall RECITAL: N. Lincoln Hanks: Monstre sacré The life of the self-indulgent artist Paul Barnes (University of Nebraska) Thursday, May 30, 2:30 p.m., Concert Hall LECTURE: Liszt and the Keyboard Alan Walker (McMaster University)

3 Thursday, May 30, 3:45 p.m., Concert Hall RECITAL: Liszt Songs Kevin McMillan, baritone (James Madison University) Gabriel Dobner (James Madison University) Thursday, May 30, 4:30 p.m., Concert Hall CONCERT: Music of Liszt Beethoven-Liszt: An die ferne Geliebte Tien Hsieh Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen Judith Neslény Transcendental Etudes Robert Schwartz (Mills College) Polonaise No. 2 in E major Corey McVicar (San Francisco Conservatory of Music) Thursday, May 30, 8 p.m., Concert Hall GALA PIANO CONCERT: Wagner-Liszt: Paraphrases and Transcriptions From Tannhäuser, Der fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin, Rienzi, Parsifal, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Das Rheingold and Tristan und Isolde Jay and Sandra Mauchley (University of Idaho), Linh Nguyen, William Wellborn (San Francisco Conservatory of Music), Gila Goldstein (Boston University), Yun Ha Hwang (Korean Liszt Society), Mark Alexander (St. Mary s University), Tien Hsieh, John Hord (Fresno City College), Gregory Allen (University of Texas), Stephan Möller (Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts), Eugene Alcalay (University of Wisconsin at Platteville), Matti Raekallio (The Juilliard School) Friday, May 31, 9:45 a.m., Recital Hall LECTURE: Wagner and Mathilde Wesendonck Hans Vaget (Smith College) Friday, May 31, 11 a.m., Recital Hall CONCERT: Music of Wagner inspired by Mathilde Wesendonck Polka in G Major; Notenbrief für Mathilde Wesendonck Schlaflos; Sonata for Mathilde Wesendonck Stephan Möller (Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts) Wesendonck-Lieder Kevin McMillan, baritone (James Madison University) Gabriel Dobner (James Madison University) Friday, May 31, 12 p.m., Recital Hall RECITAL: Piano music of Wagner Fantasy in F-Sharp Minor; Albumblatt für Ernst Benedikt Kietz; Ankunft bei den schwarzen Schwänen; Albumblatt für Frau Betty Schott; Grand Sonata in A major Stephan Möller (Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts) Friday, May 31, 2:30 p.m., Concert Hall CONCERT: Music of Verdi Vocal Music Denise Ritter Bernardini, soprano (University of Toledo), Michael Boyd (University of Toledo) String Quartet in E Minor The Ives String Quartet

4 Friday, May 31, 3:45 p.m., Concert Hall RECITAL: Music of Verdi Verdi Martucci Fantasia su Un Ballo in Maschera, Op. 8 Jay and Sandra Mauchley (University of Idaho) Verdi-Liszt: Paraphrases and Transcriptions from Rigoletto, Requiem, I Lombardi, Don Carlo, Aïda, Simon Boccanegra, Il trovatore Hanson Tam (San Francisco Conservatory of Music), Gila Goldstein (Boston University), Alexandre Dossin (University of Oregon), Yun Ha Hwang (Korean Liszt Society), Sandro Russo, Alexander Djordjevic (Music Institute of Chicago) Friday, May 31, 8 p.m., Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento Street at Van Ness Avenue** RECITAL: Antonio Pompa-Baldi Liapunov Transcendental Etude, Op. 11, No. 12 Elegy in memory of Franz Liszt Chopin Etudes, Op. 10 (dedicated to Franz Liszt) Liszt Ballade No. 2 in B Minor Liszt Sposalizio (Années de Pèlerinage: Italie) Liszt Concert Paraphrase on Verdi s Ernani Roberto Piana Aprés une lecture de Liszt **Tickets $17/$14 through Old First Concerts. Call or visit Saturday, June 1, 9:45 a.m., Concert Hall LECTURE: Verdi and Wagner Transcriptions in Historic Recordings Donald Manildi (University of Maryland) Saturday, June 1, 11 a.m., Concert Hall LECTURE-RECITAL: Verdi Transcriptions by Hermann Cohen ( ) Second Fantasy on themes from Nabucco; Grand Fantasy Brillante Reminiscences of I Lombardi Justin Kolb Saturday, June 1, 12 p.m., Concert Hall LECTURE-RECITAL: Felix Weingartner: A Sesquicentennial Salute from Emil von Sauer Gregory Broughton, tenor (University of Georgia) Richard Zimdars (University of Georgia) Saturday, June 1, 2:30 p.m., Concert Hall RECITAL: Late Liszt Songs and Piano Works inspired by Wagner Elizabeth Packard Arnold, soprano (University of Kentucky) Benjamin Arnold (University of Kentucky) Saturday, June 1, 3:30 p.m., Concert Hall CONCERT: Wagner Transcriptions Chevillard: Ride of the Valkyries (arr. for 8 hands); Tausig: Liebesszene und Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde; Tausig: Winterstürme from Die Walküre; Brassin: Magic Fire Music from Die Walküre; Jordan: Immolation Scene from Götterdämmerung Nathaneal Leonard (University of Toledo), Mark Alexander (St. Mary s University), David Utterback (Southwestern University), Michael Boyd (University of Toledo), Daniel Glover (Notre Dame de Namur University, Jeremy Jordan (The Juilliard School)

5 Saturday, June 1, 4:30 p.m., Concert Hall CONCERT: Winners of the 2012 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition Au bord d'une source (Années de Pèlerinage: Suisse) S. 160, no. 4 Christopher Son Richardson Transcendental Etude in F minor, S. 139, no. 10 Asana Onishi St. Francois de Paule marchant sur les flots S. 175 Jason Kim Paganini Etude No. 3 (La campanella), S. 141 Sofija Nedic O lieb, so lang du lieben kannst, S. 298; Die Lorelei, S. 273 Nandani Maria Sinha, mezzo-soprano, Judith Neslény, piano Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254 Alex Chien