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Truly a "creme-de-la-creme" CD! Experience the magnificent artistry of Aglaia Koras, concert pianist in a vast range of classical styles-from exquisitely expressive Chopin, sublime Mozart, herculean Brahms, hauntingly beautiful Bach, truly ravishing Prokofieff, and the hair-raising, awesome power and virtuosity of the Samuel Barber Piano Sonata. AGLAIA KORAS, CONCERT PIANIST: Critics have hailed her performances as "masterful." Concert pianist Aglaia Koras made her debut at age eleven with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. Recognition by her mentor, Greek pianist Gina Bachauer, drew the attention of Rudolf Serkin, the Director of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where Ms. Koras studied for several years on full scholarship with Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horszowski. After receiving the Curtis Alumni award for three consecutive years, Ms. Koras graduated from Curtis with a Bachelor's degree in Piano. Serkin called her an "Excellent pianist. A fine musician." In 1983, the City of New York and the Queens Council on the Arts sponsored her New York Debut at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, where she received a standing ovation. The New York Times called her performance "Compelling. Sensitive and tasteful." She has returned several times to Lincoln Center, and also performed at the Kennedy Center, Merkin Concert Hall, Lincoln Center, and in major concert halls throughout the United States. Her overseas performances have included appearances in France, Switzerland, Spain, Greece, England, Mexico, and Canada, as well as European and American television and radio broadcasts. In recent seasons, Ms. Koras has performed at the Summit Meeting in Washington, DC for all United States Ambassadors; at the Kennedy Center, several embassies, and other concerts sponsored by the National Symphony Orchestra, and has been featured on the Smithsonian website. Ms. Koras has received top prizes in several international and national competitions, including: the International Chopin Young Pianists Competition, first prize; the International American Music Scholarship Association Competition, first prize; the International Concert Artists Guild Competition, Fine Artistry and Musical Excellence Award; the National Young Musicians Foundation Competition, first prize;the Kosciuszko Foundation Competition, finalist; the LaGesse Fellowship of France; the Adopt-An-Artist Award of New York City; the Ruth Slenczynska Award for Piano; as well as other awards. Ms. Koras' musical lineage can be traced to Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Cortot. Horszowski studied with Leschetizky, who studied with Carl Czerny, a pupil of Beethoven. Horszowski's mother studied with Mikuli, a student of Chopin. Bachauer studied with Rachmaninoff and Cortot. This rich heritage, combined with her own unique passion, intelligence, imagination, and tremendous capacity for expression brings an unusually wide range of stylistic insight to her unusually broad repertoire. In addition to being an active performing artist, Ms. Koras has served on the faculties of Temple University, (where she simultaneously received a master's degree) and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She enjoys giving master classes and serves as adjudicator for international competitions. Check out the artist's website: http://www.aglaiakoras.com Track List: 1. Etude in D minor.Op.2 No.1 by Prokofieff 2. Fantasy in D minor,KV397 by Mozart 3. Rhapsody in B minor, Op.79 by Brahms 4. Etude, Op. 25 No.7 (cello) by Chopin 5. Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells (from Pictures at an Exhibi 6. Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Opus Posthumus by Chopin 7. Chromatic Fantasy in D minor, BWV 903 by Bach 8. Chromatic Fugue in D minor, BWV 903 by JS Bach 9. Adagio (from Italian Concerto) by Bach 10. Piano Sonata, Opus 26 by Samuel Barber: Allegro energico 11. Piano Sonata, Opus 26 by Samuel Barber: Allegro vivace e leggero 12. Piano Sonata, Opus 26 by Samuel Barber: Adagio mesto 13. Piano Sonata, Opus 26 by Samuel Barber: Fugue: allegro con spiri Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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