Andrew Cooperstock Releases LEONARD BERNSTEIN: COMPLETE SOLO WORKS FOR PIANO

Award-winning pianist Andrew Cooperstock and Bridge Records announce the release of Leonard Bernstein: Complete Solo Works for Piano now available on iTunes, Amazon, and at major retail outlets.

The two-disc recording, marking Bernstein's birth 100 years ago, features collections dedicated to friends, as well as two larger works for solo piano. Bridal Suite, for piano four hands, recorded here in its entirety for the first time, was composed as a wedding gift for actress Phyllis Newman and lyricist/playwright Adolph Green.

Anniversaries, which offers a glimpse into Bernstein's personal and professional lives, represents a major contribution to the piano repertoire, similar to preludes by Chopin and Debussy. Although Bernstein's works for orchestra or the stage are better known, his piano compositions are often personal and imaginative and served as an inspiration for Cooperstock.

"Leonard Bernstein was one of the most significant American musical figures of the 20th century," says Cooperstock, "and it has been an honor to have performed his works throughout my career. His centenary provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate him as pianist and composer."

Performing as soloist and chamber musician, Cooperstock has appeared on six continents and throughout the United States, including performances at New York's Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the United Nations. He has been featured in recitals and concerto appearances at the Chautauqua, Brevard, and Round Top music festivals, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Hong Kong's Hell Hot! New Music Festival, in such international locales as London, Paris, Geneva, Beijing, Seoul, Accra, Kiev, Vladivostok, Canberra, Quito and Lima, and on National Public Radio, Radio France, and the British Broadcasting Corporation. Cooperstock, a Professor of Piano at the University of Colorado Boulder, is the Artistic Director of the University's Leonard Bernstein at 100 celebration.

Cooperstock and violinist William Terwilliger, as the internationally recognized Opus Two, have recorded a series of critically acclaimed single-composer discs of American music, dedicated to the works of Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Robert Starer, Paul Schoenfield and Lowell Liebermann. The Duo's Naxos recording of the music of Leonard Bernstein, acclaimed as "an excellent recording, performed splendidly throughout," features new arrangements by Broadway music director Eric Stern and collaborations with Broadway actress-singer Marin Mazzie. Cooperstock and Terwilliger's newest recording is dedicated to the music of George Gershwin and features four world premieres. Gershwin: Music for Violin and Piano includes seven of Gershwin's most brilliant works, transcribed for violin and piano duo by Jascha Heifetz, Eric Stern, and Samuel Dushkin.

Building on the success of their Gershwin multi-media program dedicated to Porgy and Bess which they toured in over 30 markets in celebration of his 75th anniversary, this season Opus Two will be touring with a number of Bernstein anniversary programs including a special program that incorporates the music of Claude Debussy in recognition of the centennial of his death in 2018.

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