As far as classical music goes, there isn’t anything that Logan doesn’t have. From opera to choral and chamber music, the northern Utah city has something for everyone.
And if your taste runs towards piano music then Logan is the right place for you, too, thanks to the Wassermann Festival.
Every two years the Wassermann Festival engages some remarkable keyboard talents, ranging from young up-and-coming pianists to established artists with an international following.
“We have an exciting lineup of pianists,” said festival artistic director Dennis Hirst in a phone interview with Reichel Recommends. The festival runs from March 5 through April 3. During that month there will be four recitals and four master classes.
Vadym Kholodenko (Photo: Anna Chobotova)
Hirst has some specific criteria he uses in selecting the pianists he invites to come to Logan. For one, he doesn’t consider anyone he hasn’t heard perform live. “I’m leery about booking people on just their credentials or just on listening to their CDs,” because it doesn’t give a complete picture of the performer. “I want to see them because I have two priorities,” Hirst said. “First, pianists must connect with their audience. Second, they have to be able to interact with people in a non concert setting. They have to interact with students in a teaching capacity.” Neither can be evaluated through CDs alone. And for most of these pianists Hirst has heard them at the various competitions they’ve participated in.
This year’s roster is impressive. It includes two winners from last year’s Van Cliburn Competition, gold medalist Vadym Kholodenko and crystal medal winner Sean Chen; the gold medalist of the 2011 Tchaikovsky Competition, Daniil Trifonov; and Stephen Hough, an internationally recognized pianist who needs no introduction. “These are all pianists with a unique voice and unique talents and with great personalities,” Hirst said. “Listening to any one of them is a transformative experience.”
Sean Chen (Photo: Ellen Appel-Mike Moreland)
The festival’s first concert will be a duo piano recital with Trifonov and Sergei Babayan. “Sergei was one of Daniil’s teachers, and he is one of the great teachers today,” Hirst said. He added that he’s tried to get Trifonov to Logan for several years, but because of problems with logistics it didn’t work out until now. “We had our eye on him for the last three or four years. This is our fourth attempt to make it happen.” In the meantime, Trifonov has only become more prominent. “He is one of the young superstars of the piano today.”
The two will be playing Mozart’s Sonata in D major, K. 381; Schubert’s Fantasie in F minor, D. 940; Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite, arranged by Babayan; and Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 2, op. 17.
Chen has also been making waves and is quickly becoming a rising star on the concert circuit, thanks in part to his performance at the Cliburn competition.
At the same Cliburn competition Kholodenko “mesmerized” the audience, according to Hirst. “He got everyone’s attention.” And a few years before taking top honors at the Cliburn, Kholodenko was a third place finalist at the 2006 Gina Bachauer International Artists Competition.
The English pianist Hough will close out the festival. “This will be his third appearance with us, which is unusual,” Hirst said. But Hough hasn’t worn out his welcome. Far from it, actually. “Our patrons are excited about having him come back.”
Stephen Hough (Photo: Sim Canetty-Clarke)
All recitals and master classes take place in Performance Hall on the Utah State University campus. Hirst said that seats are reserved for the recitals and can be purchased on the day of the performance. “We usually have seats available, but if you want to get good seats order your tickets early, because they sell fast.”
Tickets for the recitals are $24 reserved, $20 for USU faculty and staff and $12 for students age eight and up. Tickets for the master classes are $25 and are not reserved. There is a $200 package available for the entire festival. Tickets can be purchased online at www.arts.usu.edu or by phone at 435-797-8022.
For people traveling to Logan, University Inn on the USU campus is offering a $54 special deal for festival attendees. Reservations must be made through the festival website at www.arts.usu.edu/wassermann/ to take advantage of the offer.
Below is a complete listing of events. Complete programs can be viewed on the festival website.
- March 5, 7-9 p.m. – Sergei Babayan Master Class.
- March 6, 7:30 p.m. – Daniil Trifonov and Sergei Babayan Duo Piano Recital. Music by Mozart, Schubert, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff.
- March 20, 3-5 p.m. – Vadym Kholodenko Master Class.
- March 20, 7:30 p.m. – Sean Chen Recital. Music by Scriabin, Chopin, Ravel and Prokofiev.
- March 21, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Sean Chen Master Class.
- March 21, 7:30 p.m. – Vadym Kholodenko Recital. Music by Purcell, Handel, Brahms, Medtner and Stravinsky.
- April 2, 7-9 p.m. – Stephen Hough Master Class.
- April 3, 7:30 p.m. – Stephen Hough Recital. Music by Schoenberg, Richard Strauss, Wagner, Bruckner, Brahms and Chopin.