The Osprey Arts Centre kicks off its fall season of the Nautilus Classical Music Series with Peter Allen, piano, and Robert Uchida, violin, in a concert of late Romantic French music at Trinity United Church on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.
Peter Allen performed here two years ago to such praise that The Osprey has invited him back. His virtuosity in works from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to his own compositions, such as the Hurricane Juan Concerto make him an easy choice for the Series.
Allen has been described as an extreme pianist and a cheetah at the piano His Debussy “effervesces”. The concert will feature the works of Debussy, Ravel and Franck so effervescence will be the order of the evening.
Presenting teaching piano and conducting the student orchestra at Dalhousie, Allen received his Bachelor at Mount Allison and his Masters at Yale.
With Allen is Robert Uchida, concertmaster of Symphony Nova Scotia. The youngest concertmaster of a major Canadian Orchestra, Uchida plays a 1733 Carlo Bergonzi violin. He enjoys the position of concertmaster, leader of the string section of an orchestra, but also performs solo and in chamber groups.
He began violin at 3½ after hearing Itzthak Perlman on Sesame Street and has never looked back. His sound has been described as ravishing, with a hypnotic intensity and virtuosic technique. He too performs music from all periods but his first CD was a piece of New Music, something he is very proud of.
On Saturday afternoon, Allen and Uchida will be giving master classes to pianist Dakota Scott-Digout and violinist Marina King. The classes begin at 1 p.m. at the church and are open to the public. Admission is free.
The concert will be held Saturday, October 1st at 8 p.m. at the Trinity United Church. Tickets are $20, $5 for youth. They are available at the Whirligig Book Shop, 875 1117, Tuesdays-Saturdays, or at the door.
