Feb. 11, 2002 – There will be two artists but just one musical instrument for the St. Croix Landmarks Society Candlelight Concert Series performances Friday and Saturday at the Estate Whim Plantation Greathouse.
The instrument, of course, is the grand piano.
The artists are the duo of Susanna Garcia and William Chapman Nyaho. It's a return engagement for Chapman Nyaho, who performed as a soloist two seasons ago to an enthusiastic reception.
While the duo mainly performs on two pianos, their recital beneath the candlelit antique chandeliers of the 250-year-old Estate Whim Greathouse will be played with four hands at one instrument.
On both evenings, the program will open with two works by Franz Schubert, the "Characteristic March" in C major, D. 886, and the "Fantasia" in F minor, D. 940. Following intermission, the duo will perform three 20th century compositions, "Mejeska Dance" and "Legende de Nuit" by Isabel Mason, and "3-Day Mix" by Eleanor Alberga (who performed in the territory last season with her violinist husband, Thomas Bowes). The program will conclude with Ravel's "Rhapsodie Espagnole."
The program is a special tribute to Isabel J. Mason, longtime St. Croix concert series mover and shaker, who died last year at the age of 96. In 1990, when consensus was reached that the piano then in the greathouse was not suitable, Mason tapped into her personal contacts at Steinway Hall and "found the right vintage instrument in Florida," the Landmarks Society season preview states. She and a colleague then traveled to Florida and made arrangements for the purchase of the instrument, "which arrived in time for the opening concert of our now established Candlelight Concert Series." The entire 2001-02 concert season is dedicated to her memory.
Chapman Nyaho, a native of Ghana, West Africa, and Garcia, who was born in South Texas, met while pursuing doctoral studies in music at the University of Texas at Austin. Their musical collaboration did not begin until later, however, when both were teaching at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
As a duo, "They have gained recognition throughout the United States, Europe and Africa with the blending of standard repertoire and newly composed works," their publicity material states. One critic hailed them for having "played with a sensitivity to the music that is rarely heard by a single pianist, let alone two working together."
They have released a CD album which is the first complete recording of the two-piano works of the American composer Aaron Copland.
In addition to his duo work with Garcia, Chapman Nyaho has performed extensively as a soloist and with orchestras. In 1996, he presented the world premiere of the "Rosewood Concerto" with the African American Philharmonic of Atlanta. An advocate of piano music of the African Disapora, he travels extensively performing and giving presentations on the work of composers of African origin; he received the American Composers Award for his performance of the music of African-American composer R. Nathaniel Dett.
Garcia also performs as a soloist, as well as in chamber recitals, and she presents workshops and master classes for music teacher groups across the nation. She holds the Ruth Stodghill Girard Endowed Professorship in Music and last fall was awarded a professional development grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts.
Both artists hold Distinguished Professor Awards from the University of Louisiana.
For both the Friday and Saturday performances, doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 for Landmarks Society members and $30 for others. Space is limited in the main salon and surrounding rooms, and reservations are required for main room seating. For tickets and/or more information, call 772-0598, fax to 772-9446, or e-mail to [email protected].
For information about the remaining programs on the 2001-02 Candlelight Concert Series, see the St. Croix Landmarks web site.