Faculty pianists to perform on Smithsonian National Gallery Concert Series

Faculty pianists Dr. Joanne Kong and Dr. Paul Hanson will perform a concert on the Smithsonian Institution National Gallery Concert Series in Washington on Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

The program honors the bicentennial of the birth of composer and pianist Franz Liszt (1811-1886), one of the most significant figures of 19th century Romanticism. The concert is the last of the duo's seven-concert tour this semester. Repertoire will include Liszt's suite Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas Tree) and two-piano arrangements of three symphonic poems, Festklänge, Orphée, and Hunnenschlacht.

Hanson has been acclaimed for his "dextrous authority" (Los Angeles Times), "relentless tension and drama" (The Virginian-Pilot), and the San Antonio Express-News wrote that "Hanson's tender singing line, intelligent phrasing and total magisterial command made this a distinguished performance."

His numerous performances include appearances with the Third Coast New Music Festival, Hindemith Festival, Columbia University, and concerts at the Arnold Schoenberg Institute. His special interest in contemporary music includes performances of the complete solo music of Schoenberg, as well as repertoire of Charles Ives, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Boulez, and many others.

Kong has been praised for her “great finesse and flexibility” (The Washington Post), “utmost keyboard sensitivity and variety of tone” (Richmond Times-Dispatch), “remarkable technical ability” (The Oregonian), and “superb artistry” (San Antonio Express-News) for works "sensitively played" (The New York Times).

Her versatility includes the distinction of being the first artist to release a harpsichord-piano recording of the Goldberg and Diabelli Variations, on the BRIOSO label. In 2007 she premiered Side By Side by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Colgrass, the first concerto to feature a single soloist on both the piano and harpsichord, and performed the work with Esprit Orchestra (Toronto), the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the Richmond Symphony.

For more information about the concert, visit the National Gallery of Art.