'Fantasies for the Piano' presented by new faculty member

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—New Western Michigan University piano faculty member Yu-Lien The will present piano works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Robert Schumann and 2016 Pulitzer finalist Carter Pann at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Robert White. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students, and are available from Miller Auditorium online or by calling (269) 387-2300 or (800) 228-9858.

The evening begins with Bach's "Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue" and closes with Schumann's monumental cycle of character pieces, "Kreisleriana." Subtitled "Phantasien für das Pianoforte" and inspired by literary works of E. T. A. Hoffmann, these fantasies are exemplary in their display of Schumann's two contrasting characters, the passionate "Florestan" and the dreamy "Eusebius." A highly proficient pianist himself, Pann has written dozens of solo works that are highly imaginative, colorful and unabashedly emotional. From this output, The is playing selections from his "Five Serious Pieces" as well as "The Piano's 12 Sides," including his virtuoso "Grand Etude-Fantasy."

Bullock Music Performance Institute

Established in the fall of 1985 and renamed in 1988 in honor of its founder, the institute's mission is to add to the already rich cultural life of Kalamazoo by creating opportunities to develop closer personal and artistic ties between audience and performer. The institute has presented events ranging from formal evening concerts to daytime educational outreach events for students and local audiences of all ages.

For more information about the Wednesday evening concert series, call (269) 387-4704 or (269) 387-4678, or visit wmich.edu/music.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.