PAUL SMITH Solo Piano Recital
Benefit Concert for Contemporary Opera Marin
Emeritus faculty member Paul Smith presents his annual piano recital to benefit Contemporary Opera Marin. This year: J.S. Bach's Partita No. 1, a far-ranging exploration of the keyboard suite style of the time; Franz Schubert's Sonata in A major, Opus 120, an enchantingly lilting work; Frederic Chopin's Fantasie, Op. 49, a far-ranging single movement work throwing off the strictures of current practice to find a new free-form voice. The concert concludes with Robert Schumann's Faschingsschwank aus Wien (Carnival Scenes From Vienna), Op. 26, a magnificent five-movement work displaying the full range of Schumann's inspired genius.
March 29, 2019 - 7:30 PM
March 31, 2019 - 2 PM
Lefort Recital Hall / PA72
Performing Arts Building
March 30, 2019 - 7 PM
Muir Beach Community Center
March 31, 2019 - 7 PM
The Dance Palace, 503 B Street
Pt. Reyes Station
Free admission / parking at all venues
Pianist Paul Smith, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, received his education at the Royal College of Music in London and the Vienna Hochschule fur Musik, as well as Dominican College of San Rafael. A winner of national and international piano competitions, and a participant in the U.S. State Department's Artistic Ambassador program, he also served as music director for famed Russian choreographer Leonid Massine. Since 1976 he has devoted himself to the cultural life of Marin County, California, through solo piano, concerto and chamber music performances, directing several new music ensembles, and is artistic director of Contemporary Opera Marin, which has received international acclaim for its production of contemporary works and rediscovered gems of past centuries. He is the director of classical music for radio station KWMR Point Reyes Station, and the founder and artistic director of the Music From Marin Chamber Players, bringing world class musical performances to communities throughout Marin County. Paul was recently awarded the Sali Lieberman Award for contributions to the cultural life of Marin County. He now divides his artistic life between Marin County, California and Gulfport, Florida.