BWW PREVIEW: THE CLASSICAL LEGACY OF A ROCK STAR - Rock Legend Keith Emerson Performs with South Shore Symphony

Iconic rock and roll legend Keith Emerson, will be appearing, performing with and conducting the South Shore Symphony on October 10th and 11th at Molloy College's Madison Theatre. The performances mark the 70th birthday of the virtuoso keyboard master. The concert, a salute to his long and diverse career, includes a number of the classical masterpieces that received "the Emerson treatment" while he was the leader of the progressive rock, super group, Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

The evening's centerpiece will be a performance of Emerson's Piano Concerto No. 1, from 1977's "Works Volume One" by the eminent pianist Jeffrey Biegel. The program will also feature the world premiere of three String Quartets based on Emerson's piano works. The maestro will also take to the podium and conduct his own composition, "Glorietta Pass."

The South Shore Symphony will perform the Ravel version of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," a standard of the classical repertoire which was introduced to a whole new generation of listeners through the classic Emerson, Lake and Palmer album of the same name in 1971. Fans will be treated to a very special solo piano version of the ELP classic "Tarkus" as well as "Honkey Tonk Train Blues" performed by Emerson and members of the symphony.

ELP were the first ever "super-group" and received critical and commercial success right out of the gate, virtually inventing and defining the genre of progressive rock. Their live performances were the stuff of legend, from Emerson's show-stopping destruction of his Hammond organ while performing a blend of Brubeck and Bach, to their record-breaking 1977 tour featuring a full 76 piece symphony orchestra.

"Keith Emerson was to rock and roll, what Rubenstein was to Chopin," says Biegel. "He opened up the world of classical music to a huge new audience that otherwise might never have been exposed to it. He made it cool."

Jeffrey Biegel, widely considered one of the leading classical pianists in the world today, brings a tremendous passion to the composer's work. "A few years ago, I was looking for new, more contemporary repertory and a music publisher friend of mine recommended the Emerson Concerto. One listening and I was completely blown away. It is a really marvelous piece. Keith has artfully blended everything from Ravel and Debussy to Bernstein and Brubek. It's the type of piece that every pianist wants to play, and the kind of piece that audiences will love."

Biegel's career has also been an eclectic one. He brings a truly rare blend of dazzling technique and profound depth and imagination to all of his projects. His latest endeavor will be the formation of a new piano trio featuring legendary concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic Glenn Dicterow and cellist Robert DeMaine.

Biegel has performed the Emerson Concerto several times before and is thrilled to finally be able to bring it to New York audiences for the first time. But he makes no secret of his dream for the work: "My dream is to perform the Emerson Concerto at the Hollywood Bowl with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic. I've heard that Maestro Dudamel is a Keith Emerson fan and I think he'd be the ideal conductor for the piece. A few seasons ago, Maesto Dudamel conducted a simply incredible performance of the Ginastera Piano Concerto at the Hollywood Bowl - a piece that Keith Emerson adapted for ELP several years ago. I think my greatest dream would be to perform an evening of the Emerson Concerto and music by other composers who influenced and inspired Keith. That would be incredible."

Are you listening Maestro Dudamel?

The Concert Tribute to Emerson's 70th Birthday "The Classical Legacy of a Rock Star" will be presented on October 10th and 11th at Molloy College's Madison Theatre in Rockville Centre.

Tickets are available at www.madisontheatre.org or by telephone at (516) 323-4444. Tickets are $30-$55.

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