On Sunday: Amadeus Concert Ensemble Presents “Piano Passions”

The Amadeus Concert Ensemble, known for its thematic explorations of the intriguing and less well-known side of otherwise well-known composers, begins its 9th season this Sunday afternoon with a concert entitled “Piano Passions.” Part of the popular and continuing Cathedral Concert Series, this concert focuses on legendary pianists and composers whose works for the piano have provided music history with inspiring and virtuoso performances. The performance, under the baton of ACE Artistic Director Brian Salesky, will feature pianist Dr. Chih-Long Hu, Professor of Piano at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, whose musicianship has earned him significant competition awards in Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Andorra, and California.

As in previous ACE programs, the concert goes intriguingly off the well-trod musical path to highlight repertoire that is rarely performed in public. Included here will be the Knoxville premieres of Leopold Koželuch’s Keyboard Concerto for Four Hands, Joaquín Turina’s Rapsodia Sinfónica, and Marcello’s Introduction, Aria, and Presto for Strings. Also on the concert will be Vivaldi’s Concerto for Strings in D minor, Falla’s Pantomine and Ritual Fire Dance from El Amor Brujo, and a movement from Granados’ Piano Quintet. Maestro Salesky, making his public debut as pianist with orchestra, will join Dr. Hu at the keyboard for the duo concerto.

The Cathedral Concert Series is a production of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville.