Spring Concert with Duo Fortin-Poirier

The Duo Fortin-Poirier has taken the great art form of four-hand piano music to a new level. The Duo is the union of two great friends, as much accomplices in their daily lives as on stage, who will blow you away with their virtuosity. In this colorful concert on the theme of dance, the Canadian pianists invite you to discover works by great classical and modern composers, often rhythmic, sometimes languorous, but always awe-inspiring.

To open the program, Artistic Director Michael Adams will host another in our Music Illuminated series, collaborating with Duo Fortin-Poirer to reveal the fascinating history behind four-hand piano music in 19th century culture. Some of it is even a tad salacious! Back in the days before recorded music or public concerts, the way most people got to know famous symphonies, operas, and chamber music was through four-hand piano arrangements meant for domestic music-making. This had the unintended consequence of making the piano bench the only safe space where close contact (even touching!) between the sexes was allowed.

Program will include

Malagueña (E. Lecuona) 4’
Valses-Caprice op.37, 1st mvt (E. Grieg) 5’
Histoire du Tango, excerpts (A. Piazzolla) 13’ :Café 1930
Nightclub 1960
Enamorada (V. Simon) 5:30’
Serpent’s Kiss (W. Bolcom) 6:30’
Mozart: D Major Sonata KV 381, 1st mvt
Schubert: Fantaisie in F minor (excerpt)
Dvorak: Legend op. 59 n.1
Poulenc: Sonate pour 4 mains, 1st mvt
Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole (excerpt)
Alfonso Peduto: Clockwork (from Nachtmusik)