Classically Speaking

“Anyone who has a set of ears and an open soul and heart will be able to enjoy the evening” – Barbara Nissman

Pianist Barbara Nissman loves the great romantic piano music of the Nineteenth Century, but she also champions twentieth-century composers including Béla Bartók, Sergei Prokofiev, and Alberto Ginastera.

Nissman’s relationship with Ginastera’s music is special: she studied with the composer at University of Michigan, and he wrote his final piece of piano music for her. She was then discovered by Eugene Ormandy in Philadelphia, which helped launch her career as a pianist. For twenty years, she has lived in Lewisburg, West Virginia, while still traveling around the world to perform and teach masterclasses. 

This weekend, Nissman will be performing a benefit concert for Carnegie Hall and the Greenbrier Valley Theatre. The concert is at Carnegie Hall Lewisburg, Saturday April 25 at 7:30pm.   

We have many of Nissman’s recordings – of Prokofiev, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms, Bartók, Ginastera, Chopin, and Beethoven – in our library.  Having heard her recordings and played them on the radio, I was especially happy to get to talk to her about music.

The American Boychoir (ABC) was in town this past weekend – well actually, two towns. The touring ensemble performed in Morgantown Saturday at St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church  and on Sunday at First Presbyterian Church (FPC) in Charleston.

If you missed them, (Mona warned you last week!) you missed a great experience. I caught the Charleston program, which was partnered with the Appalachian Children’s Chorus (ACC) and choristers from a couple of local churches as well. (Kudos to FPC music minister Mary Odin and Selina Midkiff!)

The ABC has close ties to Charleston since its former music director, James Litton, grew up on the West Side and graduated from Stonewall Jackson High.

WV Senator Dan Foster conferred the Distinguished West Virginian Award on Dr. Litton as part of Sunday night’s program.

The real stars of the program were the kids, however, all of them.

The program began with Ruth Dwyer of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir leading the combined local choristers in a short program of pieces they’d spent the weekend preparing.

 ACC director Selina Midkiff studied with Dwyer early on in her career, and invited her mentor to be guest conductor and workshop leader for the event.

It was a large group and they were well-received by the audience which filled the downstairs of First Presby’s sanctuary.

(The back gallery was filled by whichever choir was “waiting in the wings.”)

The singers were assisted by a small troupe of dancers who also signed the group’s closer, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

After intermission, the 30-member American Boychoir Touring Choir took the stage by storm. Director Fernando Malvar-Ruiz led them in sacred works from early chant to contemporary, with a smattering of spirituals and world music for good measure.

(I must mention here that the group was exquisitely accompanied when required by friend and assistant music director, Kerry Heimann.)

The boys thrilled the crowd with a medley of South African tunes, complete with choralography and drama.

The entire ensemble of children joined their young voices for the finale, led by Jim Litton.

The ABC tour continues through KY, TN, PA, OH, VA and the Carolinas until May 3 when it’s interrupted for a performance of Mahler’s Symphony #8 at Carnegie Hall. 

So – if you see the American Boychoir coming to a venue near you – go and be inspired!