Posted on Oct. 28: Romance ignited during celebration of music and words

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/beethoven.jpg” caption=”Beethoven”]During the Romantic Period, from 1820 to 1910, passion ruled the day and the music of Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf and Liszt touched the soul. This week, the passion from this period will return as McMaster co-hosts the ninth international Great Romantics Festival Oct. 30-Nov. 1.

Artists from around the world will gather in Hamilton to perform works from the Romantic Period during this upcoming festival, founded in 1994 by emeritus professor of music Alan Walker. Walker is also author of the standard (and international award-winning) biography of Franz Liszt, the famous 19th century composer.

Walker is enthusiastic about this year's line-up of musicians and lecturers. “The festival will appeal to everyone, from the music aficionado to the general music lover,” he says.

Co-hosted by McMaster, the American Liszt Society and the City of Hamilton, the event will feature the North American premiere of Liszt's orchestration of the Andante cantibile from Beethoven's “Archduke” Trio, op. 97.

Returning to the festival this year is a piano gala, which features four pianists who will deliver eight of Chopin's greatest Polonaises. Another highlight is an interview with Fernando Laires, president emeritus of the American Liszt Society, who will talk about his former teacher Isidor Philipp, a pupil of Saint-Sakns and teacher of Albert Schweitzer, who met Franz Liszt. Earl Carlyss will return this year as the soloist in Max Bruch's Violin Concerto in G Minor with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. There will also be three lieder recitals, featuring music by Schumann, Brahms, Schubert, Wolf and Liszt.

The main piano recital will be given by 18-year-old Esther Keel from New York. Keel has won a number of international prizes, and was a finalist in the Los Angeles International Liszt Piano Competition in 2002. Rounding out the festival will be an organ recital, a chamber concert and lectures by visiting speakers.

Some events are held in Convocation Hall at McMaster, while others will take place at Centenary United Church (on Main St. near James St.) and Christ's Church Cathedral on James St. North.

Admission is free to festival events for students, while for others, the registration fee of $100 gives admission to all performances. Alternatively, non-students can pay $20 for admission to a single (morning or afternoon) session.

For further information, including program and registration information, visit www.artset.net/greatromantics.html.