The fourth and final concert in the Nicola Valley Community Arts Council’s 2012-13 concert series will bring eight hands together on two pianos for a night of music people don’t normally get to hear in concerts, said Vancouver Piano Ensemble player Winfried Rompf.
“The pieces are mostly played on two pianos, with two performers at each piano,” Rompf wrote in an email. “The music is tuneful and much of it might even be familiar – such as the Brahms Hungarian Dances and the William Tell Overture. Some music is likely new and of interest – three of us at one piano, playing a great set of variations on a Donizetti tune, written by the great Carl Czerny. We know that people love to see pianos in action, and this is certainly the case here.”
Rompf said the Vancouver Piano Ensemble made a Merritt connection in Singapore when a local artist happened to be in the audience.
“He talked to me and was excited to know that we were from Vancouver,” the German-born Rompf wrote. “He immediately made a connection with Merritt and then arrangements were made. We are most happy to be asked to play in Merritt. It is our desire to inspire folk about music for more than two pianists playing together – this is not often heard and yet there is so much great music for such combinations.”
The group was formed in 2000 and has played as far away from its home base as Germany, Austria, Italy and China and has two recordings as a group, Music for Four Pianists (volumes one and two). As well, each of the players is also a solo musician.
Following the Merritt concert on April 6 at the Civic Centre, two of its members will play a two-piano, four-hand concert in late April and the whole Vancouver Piano Ensemble will play a summer concert at home.
Tickets for the concert are available at Mandolin’s, Black’s Pharmacy, and the Baillie House. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
