 The career of pianist Jeffrey Biegel has been marked by bold, creative achievements and highlighted by a series of firsts.
He performed the first live internet recitals in New York and Amsterdam in 1997 and 1998, enabling him to be seen and heard by a global audience. In 1999, he assembled the largest consortium of orchestras (over 25), to celebrate the millennium with a new concerto composed for him by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. The piece, entitled 'Millennium Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra', was premiered with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 1997, he performed the World Premiere of the restored, original 1924 manuscript of George Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' with the Boston Pops. Charles Strouse composed a new work titled 'Concerto America' for Biegel, celebrating America and honoring the heroes and events of 9-11. Biegel premiered the piece with the Boston Pops in 2002. He transcribed the first edition of Balakirev's 'Islamey Fantasy' for piano and orchestra, which he premiered with the American Symphony Orchestra in 2001, and edited and recorded the first complete set of all '25 Preludes' by Cesar Cui.
Currently, he is assembling the first global consortium for the new 'Concerto no. 3 for Piano and Orchestra' being composed for him by Lowell Liebermann for 2005-06-07. The World Premiere will take place with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Andreas Delfs on May 12-14 2006, followed by the European Premiere with the Schleswig Holstein Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Oskamp, February 6-9, 2007.
Biegel is currently on the piano faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, at the City University of New York (CUNY) and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY).
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Thursday, July 10, 2008
Return to Acapulco--since 27 years!
In 1981, I traveled to Mexico (my first airline trip!) with my high school choir. Although I graduated in 1979, I was invited to accompany the choir, which I was very close to, having many friends still in the school. The choral director asked if I would perform a recital in Mexico City's National Institute of Fine Arts (Pinacoteca Virreinal) and I did, which was followed by the choir performance. I remember the concert grand was a Petrov and the sound reverberated for quite some time--quite beautiful actually!
The altitude was an experience to get used to, for we followed our time in Mexico City with the long and winding road down to sea-level Acapulco. The old roads back then provided a movie backdrop, of beautiful mountains, towns, and the sight of Cuernevaca. We finally made it to Acapulco, and it was indeed enjoyable.
A few years ago, I became friends with the Mexican maestro, Eduardo Alvarez. He invited me to perform now with his Acapulco Philharmonica Orchestra, which he founded 10 years ago. Some amenities I took notice of include a personal mini-van with private driver, their own specialty shirts with their logo, and a very dedicated staff. During my visit so far, I managed to find where I stayed and walked 27 years ago! Not much has changed there, but the rest of Acapulco is constantly growing and building. Once a haven for movie stars and celebrities, it still has the seaside charm and attracts international travelers, although, I am here during their rainy season. It rains heavily, then passes, though I am sure the January-February period must be drier and quite blue. As for Maestro Alvarez, he is a warm and generous man and formidable musician. We are already thinking about programs for next year, with pleasure!
posted by Jeffrey Biegel
12:39 PM
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