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LEWISTON — Concert artist and teacher George Sebastian Lopez will open the 2018-2019 piano series season at the Gendron Franco Center, 46 Cedar St.
The first concert will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 and will feature works by Clara and Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.
The Center’s piano series — now in its 13th season — is unique in Maine, presenting six programs each season by world-class artists and rising stars, in one of the world’s best venues for classical piano performance. This year, the schedule includes the center debut of internationally-acclaimed artist Diane Walsh and two concerts featuring works for two pianos/four hands, bringing to center stage both of Performance Hall’s Steinway concert grand pianos.
Soloist Mauro Bertoli will headline the program Friday, Nov. 2, followed by the appearance of Walsh Thursday, Dec. 21. Much admired for their solo performances in past seasons, Igor Lovchinsky and Matthew Graybil will collaborate on a program of two-piano compositions Friday, March 8. On Friday, April 5, piano series favorites David Fung and Henry Kramer will present a program of two-piano and solo pieces, and on Friday, May 10, Henry Kramer will return for a solo program to close the season.
This month, George Lopez begins his 8th year as the Beckwith artist-in-residence at Bowdoin College, where he has also taken up the baton as conductor of the Bowdoin Chamber Orchestra. A dynamic performer, educator and lecturer for nearly 30 years, he is known on several continents for his performance of the standard repertoire as well as for being a champion of newly-written works. His “Music in the Museum” series at Bowdoin has consistently sold out to audiences who enjoy his creative and engaging lecture recitals on the relationship of music to art and ideas.
Lopez has given recitals and performed in chamber ensembles and with orchestras in the United States, Europe and Australia. His interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam received critical acclaim, and the “Los Angeles Times: hailed him for his “…musical perspective, continuity, and kaleidoscopic colors.” This summer, he performed in festivals in Switzerland and Italy, as well as in the United States.
Admission is $15, and students are free. A season pass for all six concerts is $60. A pre-concert social hour begins when the doors open at 6 p.m. The Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center is handicappd accessible.
All proceeds benefit the Franco Center. Call 207-783-1585 or visit the box office or go to FrancoCenter.org for ticket information. Box office hours are noon to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and two hours before every show.
