SORABJI: MAJOR PERFORMANCES IN NEW YORK – 2004

Whilst the following announcement may not quite fall into the
expectations of group members, we felt that, as the Parsi
(Zoroastrian) composer Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji is one of the most
important Eastern composers of the 20th century, it would be
appropriate to provide information on these important upcoming events.


We have pleasure in providing an update on two important performances
of piano works by SORABJI in New York in June 2004.

These performances will take place at Merkin Concert Hall; for
details, please see below.



17 June 2004

8.00 p.m.
Piano Symphony No. 5 "Symphonia Brevis" (1972-73)
WORLD PREMIÈRE
Donna Amato (piano)


20 June 2004

4.00 p.m.
Opus Clavicembalisticum (1929-30)
Jonathan Powell (piano)



These two seminal works in Sorabji's vast contribution to 20th century
piano music are to be given by two remarkable pianists who have for
some years been at the forefront of the new Sorabji performance
tradition, having performed and recorded a substantial number of the
composer's piano works and attracted widespread critical acclaim and
general public approbation for their presentations of Sorabji.

Separated by more than four decades, each of these pieces alone
occupies an entire evening's programme.


Opus Clavicembalisticum is arguably Sorabji's best known piece and it
represents the summation of all that he had achieved up to the time of
writing; it seems extraordinary that, less than 15 years before he
began it, he had apparently not even begun the long journey on his
unique creative path.

In spite of its superhuman challenges, "OC" (as it is colloquially
known) has received at least a dozen performances since its first
presentation to the public in Glasgow in 1930 when the composer
himself performed it from the autograph manuscript (it was not to be
published until several months later).


Piano Symphony No. 5 is "Brevis" in title alone; whilst it is indeed
the shortest of Sorabji's six symphonies for piano solo, it is of at
least half the duration of Opus Clavicembalisticum.  Sorabji appears
to have made some attempt to "retire" from composition around 1970,
but this work is the first ample demonstration of his failure in this,
his irrepressible imagination getting the better of him to the point
at which its composition progressed with remarkable alacrity, given
that Sorabji was in his eighties at the time.  "Symphonia Brevis" can
truly be said to have ushered in the final burst of Sorabji's colossal
creative energy – although, once launched, it continued largely
unabated for almost another decade.

Donna Amato is to date the only pianist to have performed any of this
work; she premièred its first and largest movement in London in 1996
and, since then, has also played two of the remaining movements in
recitals in US; this will, however, be the first time that the entire
symphony has been heard in public.



These are two vitally important dates for the calendar – not only for
devotees of Sorabji but for anyone and everyone interested in
important piano repertoire.


Venue, ticket and booking details are as follows:



Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, 129 West 67th St, New York NY
10023
Box Office – (+1) (212) 501 3330
Website – http://www.ekcc.org

Tickets $20 (all seats): students/seniors $15 with proof of status.



Major performances of Sorabji's works anywhere have always attracted
audiences from far afield; tickets, which have only just become
available, have already been sold to enthusiasts in Canada, UK,
Sweden, so you are advised to book seats as soon as possible to avoid
disappointment.


For further information, please contact:

The Sorabji Archive
Easton Dene
Bailbrook Lane
BATH
BA1 7AA
ENGLAND

Tel     (+44) 1225 852323
Fax     (+44) 1225 852523
E-mail  [EMAIL PROTECTED]


Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive