Photo Flash: PREFORMANCES WITH ALLISON CHARNEY Launches Tenth Anniversary Season

PREFORMANCES WITH Allison Charney celebrated the start of its Tenth Anniversary Season Series on Monday October 22 at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center with distinguished guest artists baritone Gustavo Ahualli, pianist Joel Fan, violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins and pianist Donna Weng Friedman, performing together with PREformances founder, soprano Allison Charney and collaborative pianist Craig Ketter.

A proponent of new works, PREformances' October concert featured music from contemporary composer Kim D. Sherman's "The Clara Cycle" (with poetry by Royce Flippin). Sherman's work - commissioned by "Her/Music; Her/Story" the new series dedicated to shining a light on the under looked works of women composers - will be performed by soprano Allison Charney, Kelly Hall-Tompkins and Donna Weng Friedman this November at Princeton University and will have its premiere in New York City on March 2019 at Steinway Hall in honor of Women's History Month.

The concert program's classical gems included "Per me giunta" from DON CARLO - G. Verdi performed by Gustavo Ahualli and Craig Ketter; "I Send My Heart Up to Thee" by Amy Beach performed by Allison Charney and Donna Weng Friedman; "Vision Fugitive" from HERODIADE -by Massenet performed by Ahualli and Ketter; two selections by Chopin performed by Joel Fan; the Nedda/Silvio duet from Leoncavallo's PAGLIACCI performed by Ahualli, Charney and Ketter and Ravel Tzigane performed by Hall-Tompkins and Weng Friedman.

In keeping with tradition, several "un-Googleable" facts were divulged! Mr. Fan explained how he chooses encores for his solo recital programs. He also revealed that a professional pianist has to master the art of playing on all different types of pianos -- and likened it to driving a rental car...."you still have to make the ride smooth no matter how unfamiliar you are with the particular quirks of each vehicle" And while discussing their performance of reflection on performing the Nedda/Silvio love duet from Leoncavallo's PAGLIACCI with Baritone Gustavo Ahualli, Charney explains to the audience, "If we do our job right, at the end you'll be thinking, 'I'll have what she's having!'"

As always, soprano Allison Charney concludes PREFORMANCES with Zueignung by Strauss, with special guest pianist Joel Fan.

PREFORMANCES WITH Allison Charney 10th Anniversary Concert Series continues Monday December 3 at 7:30 pm with featured guest artists Carol Wincenc, flute. Blair McMillen, piano, Susan Salm, cello and Roberta Cooper, cello. To learn more visitwww.preformances.org

Photo Credit: David Andrako