McGill @ Kin: Itamar Prag, pianist

A Journey through Europe:

Israeli concert pianist Itamar Prag presents a program of European virtuosic pieces. The journey begins with Beethoven’s renowned “Waldstein” Sonata. This virtuosic piece was written during the composer’s transitional period, known for its heroism, struggle and innovation. Following that is Chopin's Andante Spinato and Grande Polonaise Brillante. The listener is briefly transported to the Parisian Salon. It opens calmly and meditatively before transitioning into a spirited Polish dance. The second half of the program opens with Schumann’s dramatic Kreisleriana. This striking, idiosyncratic piece is based on the contrasting personalities of the fictional character Johannes Kriesler from ETA Hoffman’s novels. The program concludes with Prokofiev’s seventh piano sonata, often referred to as the second “war sonata”, depicting the horrors and sorrows of World War II.

About the Artist:

Israeli concert pianist Itamar Prag has performed with leading orchestras, including The Israel Symphony Orchestra – Rishon Lezion, The Haifa Symphony Orchestra, and The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. A force in competition, he was the first prize winner at the 2019 Pnina Salzman Piano Competition and the 18th International Competition for Chamber Music in France. An avid recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician, Itamar has performed in music festivals across the U.S., Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Spain, and Georgia. Itamar began his piano studies at the Givatayim Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Mrs. Hannah Shalgi, attended the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts, served under the status of “outstanding musician” in the Israeli Defense Forces and studied at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University with Prof. Arie Vardi. Currently, Itamar is completing his Doctoral Degree in Piano Performance under Dr. Ilya Poletaev at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University.

Journey through Europe:

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Program:

Ludwig Van Beethoven - Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 (1804):

Allegro con brio

Introduzione. Adagio molto

Rondo. Allegretto moderato - Prestissimo

Frederic Chopin - Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E flat

Major, Op. 22 (1830)

-Intermission-

Robert Schumann - Kreisleriana, Op. 16 (1838):

Äußerst bewegt

Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch

Sehr aufgeregt

Sehr langsam

Sehr lebhaft

Sehr langsam

Sehr rasch

Schnell und spielend

Sergey Prokofiev - Sonata No. 7 in B flat Major, Op. 83 (1942):

Allegro inquieto

Andante caloroso

Precipitato

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