School of Music students perform works by Debussy, including Debussy’s Images, Book Two (performed by Grace Huang, piano); String Quartet in G minor, Opus 10 (performed by the School of Music’s Oceana Quartet); transcriptions by Debussy and Fauré (performed by Sol Im, violin, and Brooks Tran, piano); and Debussy’s Petite Suite (for four hands, piano) performed by Britannee Hwee and Joseph Dougherty.  Debussy authority Paul Roberts of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London also provides commentary during the concert portion of this two-part event.

ARTIST BIO

Paul Roberts, piano

Paul Roberts is known internationally as a leading exponent of French piano music. His Reflections: The Piano Music of Maurice Ravel was published by Amadeus Press in America and in the UK in April 2012. It will be accompanied later in the year by a recording of the major piano works. Reflections joins two acclaimed books on Debussy: a biography, Debussy (Phaidon) and Images: The Piano Music of Claude Debussy (Amadeus), which has become a seminal text on the subject. Paul Roberts has recorded CDs of the music of Debussy, a DVD lecture-recital (for Amadeus), Mists, Fairies and Fireworks on Debussy's Preludes, and lectures for television, from the keyboard, of La mer and Ravel's Bolero, which have been seen all over the world.

Among extensive appearances throughout the United States Paul Roberts has been a guest of the Juilliard School in New York, the Peabody Institute, the Golandsky Institute, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the University of Washington and Portland Piano International (where he has been a recitalist and lecturer at the summer festival since its inception in 1999). In July 2012 he will give a lecture recital in New York for the International Keyboard Institute and Festival. He is well known for his special brand of master class, in which he aims to be fully supportive of the student while maintaining a constantly informative rapport with the audience. He has conducted master classes throughout Europe, North America and Australia.

Series Background:

Professor Robin McCabe hosts this series of performances involving faculty, students and guest artists honoring the 150^th anniversary of the birth of French composer Claude Debussy. Each performance is preceded by brief remarks to contextualize the repertoire performed.

Upcoming Events in this Series:

May 19 (Sun)

French Connections

Piano Professor Robin McCabe hosts this series of talks and performances by faculty, students and guest artists honoring the 150^th anniversary of the birth of French composer Claude Debussy. Concert highlights include Ravel�s Jeux d?eau for solo piano, and Debussy�s Images Book II and Petite Suite.

Brechemin Auditorium

4:30 p.m.

$15 (cash or check at the door)

206.685.8384