Music professor tackles tough pieces
Shpachenko gives "inspired" piano recital
JOE MULDOON, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Entertainment
Associate music professor Nadia Shpachenko performed complex pieces in her piano recital "Composers Inspiring Composers" Wednesday in the Music Recital Hall, leaving the audience in awe.
Shpachenko was inspired to perform the recital after being asked to premiere a set of pieces by Ukrainian composer Yury Ishchenko, titled "Four Mazurkas and a Touch of Chopin."
"Ishchenko's Mazurkas are delightful miniatures, inspired by specific Chopin Mazurkas, parts of which are quoted verbatim in each piece," said Shpachenko in a press release. "As I was planning my new solo program, it dawned on me: why not perform a complete program of works inspired by other composers?"
The Music Recital Hall was filled nearly to capacity with students and members of the community awaiting Shpachenko's performance. Shpachenko selected six different pieces, all written by different composers, for the evening performance.
"The show was amazing; 'Variations on a theme' by Schumann was quite powerful," said Louis Vasquez, a senior music performance student. "There is so much emotion, and she plays with so much emotion she really brings the pieces to life."
One of the pieces Shpachenko chose to play, "A.R. (Homage to Ravel)," was written by composer Iannis Xenakis. Xenakis writes some of his music in a way that makes it nearly impossible to play, said Shpachenko.
"This is one of his few pieces that is physically playable," said Shpachenko. "It is outrageously difficult to play. Last year I did a piece by Xenakis which was very difficult, and at that time I heard about this piece and decided I want to conquer Xenakis."
The difficulty of the piece and the precision with which Shpachenko played was easily apparent to the audience. Those in attendance looked shocked after Shpachenko successfully completed the piece.
"Nadia is a fantastic pianist, and for her to bring this kind of a concert to us, showing off 'Composers Inspiring Composers' is very exciting." said Iris Levine, the chair of the music department. "The concert was an absolute gift to the audience."
Shpachenko was inspired to perform the recital after being asked to premiere a set of pieces by Ukrainian composer Yury Ishchenko, titled "Four Mazurkas and a Touch of Chopin."
"Ishchenko's Mazurkas are delightful miniatures, inspired by specific Chopin Mazurkas, parts of which are quoted verbatim in each piece," said Shpachenko in a press release. "As I was planning my new solo program, it dawned on me: why not perform a complete program of works inspired by other composers?"
The Music Recital Hall was filled nearly to capacity with students and members of the community awaiting Shpachenko's performance. Shpachenko selected six different pieces, all written by different composers, for the evening performance.
"The show was amazing; 'Variations on a theme' by Schumann was quite powerful," said Louis Vasquez, a senior music performance student. "There is so much emotion, and she plays with so much emotion she really brings the pieces to life."
One of the pieces Shpachenko chose to play, "A.R. (Homage to Ravel)," was written by composer Iannis Xenakis. Xenakis writes some of his music in a way that makes it nearly impossible to play, said Shpachenko.
"This is one of his few pieces that is physically playable," said Shpachenko. "It is outrageously difficult to play. Last year I did a piece by Xenakis which was very difficult, and at that time I heard about this piece and decided I want to conquer Xenakis."
The difficulty of the piece and the precision with which Shpachenko played was easily apparent to the audience. Those in attendance looked shocked after Shpachenko successfully completed the piece.
"Nadia is a fantastic pianist, and for her to bring this kind of a concert to us, showing off 'Composers Inspiring Composers' is very exciting." said Iris Levine, the chair of the music department. "The concert was an absolute gift to the audience."
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