The 5 Browns are delivering on their dream to wake up classical music by introducing it to the widest, largest and most excited audience they can find. Whether performing individually or together in various combinations from duo to complex five-piano arrangements, The 5 Browns reveal a deep connection to the intent of their material while bringing a fresh energy and dynamic character to the color and tonal spectrum of their sound. Don't miss this classical music phenomenon Thur. March 15 @ 8 PM at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
The 5 Browns – Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra and Desirae – all attended New York's Juilliard School. In fact, they became the first family of five siblings ever accepted simultaneously. The quintet enjoyed their first wave of critical attention in February 2002 when People magazine dubbed them the "Fab Five" and at about the same time they were featured on Oprah and 60 Minutes. The 5 Browns have released 3 CDs that each went to #1 on Billboard Magazine's Classical Album Chart. The quintet has garnered extensive coverage from media outlets ranging from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, Today, and The View to The Martha Stewart Show, Public Radio's Performance Today, as well as The New York Times, Parade, People, the Los Angeles Times, the Sunday London Telegraph and Entertainment Weekly.
The 5 Browns tour extensively and have performed in numerous venues including the Grand National Theater in China, Suntory Hall in Japan and, in the United States, The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Symphony Hall in Chicago and Alice Tully Hall in New York City. In addition to touring, The 5 Browns are published writers. Their book, Life Between the Keys was published by Phoenix Books in March 2009. In the spring of 2010, their new CD The 5 Browns… In Hollywood, was released on the E1 Music label. They are also featured in a new PBS TV special, "The 5 Browns In Concert" that is airing on PBS stations throughout the country. Recent highlights included the premiere of a new work for five pianos and orchestra composed by Nico Muhly. The 5 Browns performed the work in the summer of 2011 at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Conlon. The 5 Browns are exclusive Steinway Artists.
Their Van Wezel performance program is, currently:
Rondo alla Turca Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart/Greg Anderson-The 5 Browns
Piano Sonata No. 4 in F-Sharp Major, Op. 30 Alexander Scriabin- Gregory Brown
I. Andante
II. Prestissimo
Rhapsody in Blue George Gershwin /Jeffrey Shumway-The 5 Browns
Etude de Concert, Op. 36 Edward MacDowell- Ryan Brown
The Rite of Spring: Part One Igor Stravinsky/Jeffrey Shumway- The 5 Browns
I. Introduction - The Adoration of the Earth
II. Auguries of Spring (Dances of the Young Girls)
III. Mock Abduction
IV. Spring Khorovod (Round Dance)
V. Games of the Rival Clans
VI. Procession of the Wise Elder
VII. Adoration of the Earth (The Wise Elder)
VIII. Dance of the earth
INTERMISSION
Over the Rainbow: Fantasy for Five Pianos Greg Anderson- The 5 Browns
(Based on themes from "The Wizard of Oz", composed by Harold Arlen)
Mephisto Waltz No. 1, for Two Pianos Franz Liszt/Isadore Phillip- Desirae and Deondra Brown
Atonement Dario Marianelli/Greg Anderson- The 5 Browns
Concert Etudes Op. 40 Nikolai Kapustin- Melody Brown
Reverie
Toccatina
Danse Macabre Camille Saint-Saens/Greg Anderson- The 5 Browns
Ticket prices range from $10-$45. For more information and to buy tickets, contact the Van Wezel Box office at (941)953-3368 or log onto www.vanwezel.org. Sponsored by WSMR 89.1
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