We can (gratefully) depend on the truly gifted and always engaging pianist Allen Reiser to “theme” his piano concerts, and this one is no exception…. ~Damon Johnston, Artistic Director
CHOPIN – THE FORGOTTEN, THE FAMILIAR AND THE FAMOUSIt might seem odd to associate the word “forgotten” with Chopin, but in fact, a number of his early works, written when he was a young composer trying to find his own musical voice, are almost never heard in concert. One such work is his “Variations Brillantes, Op. 12” which starts this program. A selection of “Preludes” and “Etudes”, a few of each, qualify as familiar, and the program ends with the “Heroic Polonaise, Op. 53” unquestionably one of the most famous works for the piano ever written by any composer. Painting: Eugene Ferdinand Victor Delacroix 1838
ALLEN REISER, Pianist“It was clear from his opening flourish in Rachmaninoff’s First Piano Concerto that he is a player not only of dynamic brilliance, but of mellow touch…” (London – England)
Allen Reiser has performed with various orchestras in England and Canada, and recital engagements have taken him to nearly every major centre in Western Canada. He is a pianist of diverse musical interests, with a particular interest in Canadian piano music and the music of Franz Liszt.
Allen Reiser’s first released CD, “A Canadian Piano Album”, was nominated for a 2001 Prairie Music Award in the category of Outstanding Classical Recording. A second CD, “Sonatinas and Little Sonatas”, was released in June of 2009; “…. a wonderful collection of intermediate-level sonatas and sonatinas”. (Clavier Jan/Feb 2010) His Sonatina album was the basis for a book published in German in Germany, simply titled “Allen Reiser”, which focuses on the composers present on that CD.
Allen Reiser is active throughout Western Canada as a performer, adjudicator and master class clinician. He has presented workshops and recitals for local, provincial and national Registered Music Teachers’ Associations. A National Gold Medalist of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, he has also been honoured by Calgary’s Mount Royal University with a Distinguished Faculty/Teaching Award. His two major teaching positions have been at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and at Calgary’s Mount Royal College, now Mount Royal University. He has been guest piano instructor at summer schools in Cranbrook, Camrose, Sundre and Victoria.
Allen Reiser’s former instructors include Peter Katin (England) and Dr. Robin Wood (Canada). He currently operates a private piano studio in Calgary.
