Thomas Nickell, Pianist/Composer, in Solo Recital

The impressive American composer and pianist Thomas Nickell will return to New York City’s Tenri Cultural Institute for a solo piano recital on Friday evening, October 10, 2025, 7:00 p.m. Mr. Nickell's program will include works by Beethoven, Kodaly, Liszt, and Ustvolskaya. The full program follows:

Zoltan Kodaly, Selections from 9 Piano Pieces Op. 3

No. 1, Lento

No. 2, Andante poco rubato

Franz Liszt, Selections from Harmonies Poetiques et Religieuses

No. 4, Pensée de Morts

No. 9, Andante Lagrimoso

No. 10, Cantique d'Amour

Intermission

Galina Ustvolskaya, Piano Sonata No. 5

Ludwig van Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53, "Waldstein"

I. Allegro con brio

II. Introduzione: Adagio molto

III. Rondo: Allegretto moderato -- Prestissimo

Reviewing Mr. Nickell's concert last season, Jeffrey Williams of the New York Concert Review had this to say: "Mr. Nickell has undoubted talent, and as his talent continues to flourish... I look forward to hearing what the future holds for him." Commenting on Mr. Nickell's performance of Stevenson's Scottish Triptych, Mr. Williams said; "While Mr. Nickell has the requisite technique to deal with the difficulties that abound, it was the slower sections, with his sensitive and poetic playing, that showed his artistry to its fullest extent. This work was the highlight of the evening for this listener."

Thomas Nickell, steeped in the classical music tradition with an ear for contemporary soundscapes, has already garnered recognition throughout Europe and the United States for his thoughtful explorations of various musical genres. As a pianist, Mr. Nickell has given many highly lauded public performances of important works by Bach, Beethoven, Berg, Gershwin, Khachaturian, Liszt, David Matthews, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, as well as his own compositions.

In June of 2022, Thomas Nickell launched a new series entitled "Avant Garden" with the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. Increasingly devoting his time to composition and collaborative efforts, Mr. Nickell has created Leaks for Solo Percussion and Tape (2020); Horizons for 8 Double Basses and Sine Waves (2020); Tribute (after Julius Eastman) for Solo Piano (2020); Untitled for Retuned Digital Keyboard (2020); The Falling Sun for Electronic Sounds (2020); Unstuck in Time for Orchestra (2019-20); Music for Ensemble for at least 4 players (2019-20); String Quartet in No. 2, “Heliopause,” selected for JACK Quartet Readings at Mannes (2019); Spires of Form for Voice and Piano, a work co-composed with American soprano Denise Young which was premiered at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (2019); Piano Trio for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano (2019), Intercalendrical Zone for Piano (2019), and Prelude and Constellated Night for Piano (2019).

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