Saturday, March 11, 2023 • 7:30 p.m.
The Palace Theatre, Greensburg
Tickets
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra presents Grand Piano on March 11, 2023 at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The concert opens with contemporary American composer Jennifer Higdon’s Machine followed by guest pianist Antonio Pompa-Baldi performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor’ and concludes with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathétique’ conducted by Artistic Director Daniel Meyer.
“Antonio Pompa-Baldi is a celebrated artist with whom I have had the honor of collaborating with throughout my career. His musicianship features a combination of joyous virtuosity and probing depth, where he can truly dig behind the notes and draw out the delight and majesty of Beethoven’s great ‘Emperor’ Concerto,” said Daniel Meyer.
“Jennifer Higdon’s Machine is a romp – a brief but powerful orchestral statement that whirrs and stomps with the force of an entire factory of sounds. It’s hard to imagine this music could even exist without our modern world of robotics, mechanization, and forged steel. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony is treasured for its incredible depth of expression and human emotion. There are moments of glorious triumph juxtaposed with profound grief. If one could ever encapsulate the human experience in one work, Tchaikovsky’s 6th stands as one of the few symphonies which can sweep you away in a wash of orchestral color and heart-on-sleeve emotional directness,” said Meyer.
Born and raised in Foggia, Italy, Antonio Pompa-Baldi won the Cleveland International Piano Competition in 1999 and embarked on a career that continues to extend across five continents. He also won a silver medal at the 2001 Van Cliburn Competition, as well as a bronze medal at the 1998 Marguerite Long Competition in Paris. The New York Times described his playing as “meltingly beautiful.” He is a Steinway artist and is a member of the Piano faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music. in 2015, Mr. Pompa-Baldi founded the Todi International Music Masters festival, of which he is the Artistic Director and Faculty Member.
PROGRAM
Jennifer Higdon: Machine
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 ‘Emperor’
Antonio Pompa-Baldi
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 ‘Pathétique’
Tickets: $18 – $63, student rush tickets $5 night of the concert with i.d.
724.837.1850 or order online
