January 22, 2004

By Leticia Vasquez
Editor

Concerts by three world-renowned pianists will mark the 20th anniversary of the University of Houston Moores School of Music’s (MSM) International Piano Festival this weekend, beginning with the Abbey Simon Recital at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Moores Opera House. Peter Frankl and Ruth Slenczynska also will perform.

The International Piano Festival gives students and audience members the unique opportunity to hear three great pianists in one weekend.

“The whole idea of a piano solo recital was very common 20 or 30 years ago,” said Alan Austin, director of special projects. “Now, however, very few major artists are presented in a year. Right now, we’re going through a period where a lot of orchestras are facing financial crunches, and it’s causing everybody to re-evaluate how we do what we do.”

But, the success of the piano festival continues to inspire musicians and music lovers.

The festival provides a rare opportunity to perform for some of the most accomplished artists of their time. Through master classes, four to six pre-auditioned students perform a prepared piece of music in front of an artist, such as Simon, who also is a Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Professor. The artist then offers feedback and teaches them in front of an audience.

“Most of these students are ready to perform, and it’s very inspiring for musicians to be around that kind of talent,” Austin said. “It spurs you to do better, to work harder, and it gives you a new standard, a new way to listen to things, and maybe even makes you question your own thoughts about music.”

The only one of its kind in Texas, the International Piano Festival has been known for attracting a wide variety of talented pianists over the years. In maintaining their international focus, the faculty members of the school’s piano department selected

Slenczynska and Frankl for their diverse backgrounds. Slenczynska’s family came from Poland when she was a young girl. Frankl, who is Hungarian, now lives in England.

“To have artists of this caliber speaks a lot about the Moores School of Music and the university,” Austin said.

On Saturday, students and audience members will participate in the Artists Conversation Luncheon. The setting, Austin said, allows for personal interaction among the artists and students.

“They talk about everything from who their favorite teacher was to the state of music today.”

Also on Saturday, Frankl will perform his recital, which includes works by W.A. Mozart, Franz Shubert and Bela Bartok, among others.

On Sunday, Slenczynska will perform music by Franz Liszt, Dmitri Shostakovich and Ludwig van Beethoven.

After 20 years of resounding success, Austin said he anticipates great things for the International Piano Festival.
“We would love to expand the festival to where we could include films, lectures and maybe an art exhibition,” he said.

Tickets for the International Piano Festival are $20; $10 for students/seniors.

For more information, please call MSM at (713) 743-3313.