“A heart of gold and arms of steel.” These words, used by legendary pianist Joseph Hoffman to describe Sergei Rachmaninoff, embody the purity of intention, the beauty of conception, and the mastery of pianism found in Rachmaninoff’s piano music.

Join us for a two-piano homage to one of the greatest pianist-composers of the 20th century- Sergei Rachmaninoff. Performed by OCC Lecturer Brian Gilmore and community member Richard Askoff, this program will feature the three large-scale works Rachmaninoff wrote for two pianos, each stemming from a distinct period of his life. The conception of this program evolved from the presence of two glorious pianos on Ocean County College’s campus. The Bosendorfer Imperial Grand is a nine-and-a-half-foot concert grand piano produced by one of Europe’s oldest and finest handmade piano builders. With such fine and unique pianos on our campus, it was only fitting to create an event worthy of their majesty.

Join us before the performance for a special pre-program discussion with Brian Gilmore and Rick Askoff.

Thanks to the generous support of the Frank & Lydia Bergen Foundation and The Presser Foundation, these performances are free and open to the public, but space is extremely limited. Do not miss this opportunity to hear Rachmaninoff’s brilliant works for two pianos played on these magnificent instruments, reserve your seats today by contacting the Grunin Center.

Program

Fantasy Suite No. 1, Op. 5 is a relatively early work composed at the age of twenty. Written in four movements titled Barcarolle, A Night for Love, Tears, and Russian Easter, the work is filled with a sense of overt romance and yearning characteristic of youth.

Next on the program is Suite No. 2, Op. 17, considered one of the finest works ever composed for two pianos. This work, contemporaneous with the 2nd piano concerto, reveals a composer at the height of his mature pianistic and compositional powers.

The final piece on the program, the Symphonic Dances, Op. 45, is Rachmaninoff’s last major work. Composed in 1940, three years before his death, its three movements are conceived in a far more austere and stringent style…one which is more conservative in the volume of notes written, but extraordinarily evocative in their effect.

Performances

Friday, November 5 – 1:30 pm – Private Performance

Saturday, November 6 – 1:00 pm – Public Performance – AT CAPACITY

Sunday, November 7 – 3:00 pm – Public Performance – AT CAPACITY

Monday, November 8 – 9:30 am – Private Performance

Tuesday, November 9 – 3:00 pm – Public Performance – AT CAPACITY

Wednesday, November 10 – 11:00 am – Private Performance

Thursday, November 11 – 3:00 pm – Public Performance – AT CAPACITY

Friday, November 12 – 12:00 pm – Public Performance – AT CAPACITY