Muskegon, Michigan, January 4, 2018 –Audiophile Audition hailed his “imagination and technical prowess.” Gramophone placed him “among the most remarkable young pianists.” The New Yorker declared him “the most elegant of today’s pianists.” Wherever he performs, Alessio Bax evokes superlative praise.
The dashing Italian returns to Muskegon in early February—just days after his exciting Boston Symphony debut—for a Friday night WMS concerto appearance, followed by a Saturday night recital at The Block. With WMS, Bax will perform Mozart’s stormy Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor. At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 2, he will present a solo recital featuring Bach’s Concerto in D minor BWV 974, Rachmaninoff’s Variations on a Theme of Corelli, and concluding with Liszt’s Dante Sonata and Sermon to the Birds.
All the music on the program is Italian-themed or inspired, yet none of the composers are Italian! The Bach D minor concerto was written “after the manner” of the Oboe Concerto of Alessandro Marcello, an Italian nobleman and contemporary of the composer. Similarly, Rachmaninoff’s variations are based on a theme of Italian baroque composer Arcangelo Corelli. The Liszt sonata was inspired by Dante’s epic Divine Comedy; the Sermon to the Birds is a programmatic work depicting Italy’s most famous saint, Francis of Assisi.
“When WMS opened its groundbreaking chamber series at The Block in 2014, Alessio Bax performed the very first concert!” said Music Director Scott Speck. “Alessio’s return weekend visit in Muskegon with WMS and at the Block will be an event, and you won’t want to miss any of it!”
Bax is currently touring this program throughout the U.S. and Antipodes. He is in the midst of a banner season highlighted by four major orchestral debuts, three of which take place on a spring tour of Australia and New Zealand. He collaborates with Sir Andrew Davis for his Boston Symphony debut, reuniting with the conductor for his Melbourne Symphony debut, and follows this with his first performances with the Sydney Symphony. He also debuts with the Auckland Philharmonia and Columbus Symphony; returns to New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; and presents piano four-hands duo recitals in the U.S., Australia, and Brazil with his wife, Lucille Chung.
The Block is located at 360 W. Western Avenue in Muskegon. Single tickets are priced at $25 for regular seats, $35 for table seating. Students with ID will be admitted for $10. To order, call 231.726.3231 or visit www.TheBlockWestMichigan.org.