Schenectady, N.Y. – (October 15, 1999) – Emmanuel Pahud, a world-renowned flutist, will perform with pianist Eric Le Sage in their Capital District debut in the fourth concert of the Schenectady Museum Union College Concert Series on Friday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m. in Union College's Memorial Chapel.
The performance will include Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, Syrinx, Chansons de Bilites, L'Isle Joyeuse (piano solo), Poulenc's Flute Sonata, Toccata (piano solo), Pierre Sancan's (b.1916) Sonatine, and Frank's Sonata in A.
Beginning music lessons at the age of six in Rome, the Swiss-born Pahud has quickly gained international attention, winning eight out of the twelve available prizes at the international music competitions of Geneva in 1992. At twenty two, he was appointed to First Flute of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and is now Principal Flute. (Interestingly, the same seat of the Philharmonic was previously held by James Galway, whose sound is closely compared to that of Pahud's.) Critics say, “He identifies himself so with the piece that he continually seems to create it, thus giving a natural and living breath.” He was chosen as 'Instrumentalist of the Year' in 1997 by the prestigious Victoire de la Musique in Paris. A laureate of the Yehudi Menuhin Foundation and of the International Tribune for Musicians of UNESCO, he lives in Berlin with his wife and two sons.
Pahud has an exclusive seven CD contract with EMI Classics. His first releases received the Diapason d'Or “CD of the Year,” a Fonno-Forum award, and the “Gaijitsu” award from the Japanese recording industry. They were also voted the favorite recording in France in a radio listeners poll.
Accompanist Eric Le Sage, regarded as one of the most original young representatives of the French school of pianism and a noted performer of chamber music, is the founder of the Salon-de-Provence Chamber Music Festival. His recordings, which have been received with enthusiastic acclaim by critics, have also won prizes including the Choc de Monde de la Musique, the Diapason D'Or, the Grand Prix du Disque and Recording of the Month honors in Fono Forum and Gramophone.
On the Sunday following their concert at Union, the pair will go on to be part of the Bank/Boston Celebrity Series, joining such illustrious names as Yo-Yo Ma and Anne-Sophie Mutter. The pair's appearances in this area are part of a whirlwind tour, with performances in Japan, France, Germany, Paris, the United States, Mexico, Amsterdam, Hungary, Vienna and Zurich. Highlights of Pahud's recent tours include his New York debut at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall in March of 1998, and appearances as a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra on extensive European and Asian tours led by Claudio Abbado and Daniel Barenboim.
Memorial Chapel is located near the center of the Union campus. Parking is available on campus and on nearby side streets. Tickets cost $20, $8 for students, and are available in advance at the Schenectady Museum (518) 382-7890 and at the door at 7 p.m. The performances of the Series are made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council of the Arts and the Schenectady County Initiative Program. For ticket information, call 372-3651.