Schenectady, N.Y. (November 16, 2001) – Arnaldo Cohen, the distinguished Brazilian-born pianist whose command of piano sonority, technical wizardry and original interpretations have won him
international renown, will perform Saturday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. in Union
College's Memorial Chapel.
This performance marks Cohen's third appearance in the Series, and will include works by Bach, Prokofiev, Schoenberg, and Chopin.
In the years since Arnaldo Cohen came to the attention of the critics and public, the Brazilian-born pianist has performed with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, the Philharmonia, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and the Santa Cecilia
Orchestra of Rome. He has played under the baton of such leading conductors as
Kurt Sanderling, Kurt Masur, Yehudi Menuhin, Klaus Tennstedt and Edo de Waart.
Cohen started his musical studies at the age of five, graduating from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro with an honors degree in piano and violin, as well as an engineering degree. He became a professional violinist in the Rio de Janeiro Opera House Orchestra but continued his studies with Jacques Klein, a disciple of William Kapell. Strongly encouraged by Klein to pursue a career at the piano, he continued his training in Vienna with Bruno Seidhofer and Dieter Weber.
Arnaldo Cohen was the First Prizewinner of the 1972 Busoni International Piano Competition. He made Europe his permanent home after a concert at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, replacing Martha Argerich, which brought him to prominence in the European music world.
His recent recital at London's Wigmore Hall offered a program of Schoenberg, Brahms and Liszt, and it was hailed by the critics as a triumph. He made his New York debut during the 1996-1997 season in recital at the Frick Museum with great success, and returned to New York the next season to perform in recital at the Tisch Center for the Performing Arts, receiving huge critical acclaim.
Highlights of his North American
performances in the 2001-2002 season are recitals in San Francisco,
Philadelphia and New York as well as an appearance with the Jacksonville
Symphony Orchestra where he will perform Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.2.
Recent recordings have concentrated on the works of Franz Liszt, including a disc on the IMP Classics label and the first disc in Naxos' Complete Piano Music of Liszt. Cohen has also recorded a disc of Schumann and Brahms on the Vox label.
Tickets at $20 ($8 for students) are available in advance at the Office
of Communications, Union College (518) 388-6131 and at the door at 7 p.m. For
more information, call 372-3651.
The Union College Concert Series is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency; additional support comes from the Times Union Newspapers. Memorial Chapel is located near the center of the Union College campus. Parking is available on campus and nearby side streets.