Overture Magazine: 2017-2018 Season November-December 2017 | Page 19

ANDRÉ WATTS RETURNS FOR RACH 2
STEVE J . SHERMAN
André Watts
André Watts burst upon the music world at the age of 16 when Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in one of the Young People ’ s Concerts . Two weeks later , Bernstein asked him to substitute for Glenn Gould in performances of Liszt ’ s E-flat Concerto with the New York Philharmonic , thus launching his career . More than 50 years later , Watts remains one of today ’ s most celebrated superstars .
A perennial favorite with orchestras throughout the U . S ., Watts is also a regular guest at major summer music festivals . Recent and upcoming engagements include appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra in Philadelphia and on tour ; the New York and Los Angeles philharmonics ; the Minnesota Orchestra ; the St . Louis and Houston symphonies ; and the Atlanta , Detroit , Dallas and National symphony
orchestras , among others . In celebration of the Liszt anniversary in 2011 , Watts played all-Liszt recitals throughout the U . S ., while recent international engagements include appearances in Japan , Hong Kong , Germany and Spain . In the fall of 2017 , he tours with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with performances at the University of Nebraska , Purdue University and the Norton Center in Danville , KY , as well as at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Carnegie Hall .
Watts has a long association with television , having appeared on numerous programs produced by PBS , the BBC and the A & E Network , performing with the New York Philharmonic , Boston Symphony Orchestra , Philadelphia Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center , among others . His 1976 New York recital on Live from Lincoln Center was the first full-length recital broadcast in the history of television , while his performance at the 38 th Casals Festival was nominated for an Emmy ® Award for
Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cultural Programming . Watts ’ most recent television appearances were with the Philadelphia Orchestra during the 100 th Anniversary Gala and a performance of Brahms ’ Concerto No . 2 with the Seattle Symphony for PBS .
Watts ’ extensive discography includes recordings of works by Gershwin , Chopin , Liszt and Tchaikovsky for CBS Masterworks ; recital CDs of works by Beethoven , Schubert , Liszt and Chopin for Angel / EMI ; and recordings featuring the concertos of Liszt , MacDowell , Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saëns on the Telarc label . He is also included in the Great Pianists of the 20 th Century series for Philips . In 2016 , Sony Classical released André Watts – The Complete Columbia Album Collection . The 12-CD set includes his recordings of concertos by Rachmaninoff , Brahms , Chopin , Tchaikovsky and Liszt with conductors Leonard Bernstein , Erich Leinsdorf , Seiji Ozawa and Thomas Schippers , and solo works by Liszt ,

Experience the power of the human voice .

Baltimore ’ s finest singers present art songs , arias , and vocal chamber music in an intimate and relaxed setting .
CONCERT DATES
Sunday , December 17 at 6 : 30
Sunday , February 11 at 6 : 30
Sunday , April 15 at 6 : 30
Sunday , July 8 at 6 : 30
ALL PERFORMANCES WILL TAKE PLACE AT : Corner Community Center ( formerly The First Christian Church ), 5802 Roland Avenue , Baltimore , MD 21210 .
TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION : www . baltimoremusicales . org
Phone : 410-825-1297
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NOV – DEC 2017 / OVERTURE 17