The Pianist’s Palette
Saturday, April 20, 2024, 7PM
“Diana Fanning is a brilliant pianist; a natural born musician.” —H.C. Robbins Landon
“American pianist Diana Fanning transported her audience into a scenic paradise” —Süddeutsche Zeitung, Munich
(Photo by Tad Merrick)
According to Collins Dictionary the word “brilliance” has many definitions, including “great brightness; luster, excellence or distinction; conspicuous talent, mental ability, splendor, elegance, or magnificence.” PBN’s April artist encompasses all of these designations—and more. Middlebury pianist Diana Fanning is a musical gem in our area, a radiant musician who mixes incredible combinations of musical colors in her sparkling renditions of some of the most stunning and notable works in the piano repertoire. She has performed in great halls throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, and she makes use of her formidable technique to bring each piece to a musical depth that is highly expressive and aurally satisfying. And her great love of the music and artistry focuses on giving a heartfelt and intimate experience for each and every audience member. Once you have heard her, you will want to hear more—and this musical treasure can be found just over the Champlain Bridge!
Piano By Nature presents internationally-acclaimed pianist Diana Fanning in a solo concert featuring Schubert’s monumental Sonata in A Major, D. 959 on Saturday, April 20th at 7PM and Sunday, April 21st at 3PM at Elizabethtown’s Historic Hand House. The doors will open half an hour prior to performance time, and we encourage attendees to arrive early to avoid lines at check-in.
Admission to our concerts at the Historic Hand House is $20 each with a special $5 price for children 15 years of age and under. All seating is available in a first-come-first-served capacity. Reservations are encouraged due to our limited seating and may be made through email at pianobynature@gmail.com or by phone at 518-962-8899.
OUR PROGRAM
Sonatine — Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
I. Modéré
II. Mouvement de Menuet
III. Animé
Trois Morceaux pour Piano — Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)
I. D’un Vieux Jardin (Of an old garden)
II. D’un Jardin Clair (Of a bright garden)
III. Cortège (Procession)
Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47 — Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
I N T E R M I S S I O N
Sonata in A Major, D. 959 — Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
I. Allegro
II. Andantino
III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace – Trio. Un poco più lento
IV. Rondo. Allegretto
Diana Fanning Biography
DIANA FANNING has toured extensively as a solo performer and chamber musician throughout the U.S. and in England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, the Czech Republic, Canada, and Germany. In recent years she has performed at the Schloss Leopoldskron (“Sound of Music” castle) in Salzburg, and in Prague at the invitation of the International Dvorak Society.
After a solo recital in Munich, a critic wrote that “Diana Fanning stunned her listeners with the rich spectrum of subtle colors and tonal nuances she revealed. Her recital seized the audience with a veritable deep magic.”
Ms. Fanning has performed on numerous occasions as a concerto soloist with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. She was featured as soloist in a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in the debut concert of the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra and was invited back for performances of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Vermont Public Television featured her in a program of works by Scarlatti, Ravel, and Chopin. Radio audiences hear her frequently over Vermont Public Radio, and she was interviewed on Radio Prague. She also performed live on “Morning Pro Musica” (WGBH-FM) Boston and on WNYC, New York City.
As a chamber musician, Ms. Fanning has been a guest artist with the Takacs, the Schumann, the Jupiter and the Alexander String Quartets, and with ensembles from Point Counterpoint Music Camp, which she owned and directed for ten years with her husband Emory Fanning. As a member of the Davydov-Fanning Duo with the outstanding cellist Dieuwke Davydov, she has performed widely in the U.S., completed eight concert tours of Europe, and recorded for Radio Netherlands.
Ms. Fanning’s CD of works by Janáček, Chopin, and Debussy received enthusiastic reviews in England and the U.S. She also released a recording of live concert performances with Dieuwke Davydov. Her principal teacher was Ruth Geiger of New York City; she also studied with Marcelle Heuclin at the Paris Conservatory. She is an Affiliate Artist at Middlebury College in Vermont.
TWO REVIEWS OF DIANA FANNING IN CONCERT
“Pianist Diana Fanning performed a solo recital at Middlebury College Sunday that revealed the inner workings of masterpieces by Schubert, Chopin, Ravel and Lili Boulanger. Diana Fanning is one of those very few pianists whose performances of large masterpieces actually explain the music, a musical sort storytelling. Fanning performed an impressive solo recital Sunday at Middlebury College’s Mahaney Center for the Arts. The Robison Concert Hall was nearly full as this college faculty member delivered the depths of music by Ravel, Boulanger, Chopin and Schubert. It was Franz Schubert’s Sonata No. 20 in A Major, D. 959, one of the composer’s final three, masterpieces all, that showcased Fanning’s ability to make sense of a large complex work, missing none of its pianistic flair. But first, she spoke to the audience, giving an easily accessible explanation of what was happening in this 30-minute-plus sprawling work — but there was nothing pedantic about her performance. Fanning connected every idea and thought in the music so that it made sense from beginning to end. Speaking, she highlighted the misery of poverty and illness in Schubert’s life and how they might have been revealed in the slow movement, Andante. Regardless of any human story, the musical story emerged with a clarity and musical and emotional power I have seldom heard. It was a brilliant performance. The same approach brought a flavor not often encountered in Frederic Chopin’s Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op 4. Often heard in a more virtuosic reading, Fanning’s performance was mostly lighter and more relaxed, as one line connected to another, one idea to another, building to real power. She said something about a failed romance between a mermaid and a human, but what I heard was a beautiful, sensual and exciting musical story told irresistibly. Fanning’s technique is virtuosic, yet she uses it first for expression. She has a refined touch that allows her to deliver intimate details yet has plenty of power in her fingers to achieve real emotional power. Most importantly, it is controlled to achieve precisely what she wants. This was most important in the two French works on her program. Maurice Ravel’s well-known Sonatine benefited from this kind of control. The opening Modéré was lyrical and dramatic, the Mouvement de menuet light as a French pastry, and the final Animé quick and driven but with a light touch. It was delight. Perhaps most unusual were the Trois morceaux pour piano (Three Pieces for Piano) by Lili Boulanger (1893-1918), one of if not the greatest woman composer. Here, Fanning’s control and storytelling style made “D’un vieux Jardin (Of an Old Garden),” “D’un Jardin clair (Of a Bright Garden)” and “Cortège (Procession”)” simply irresistible. Such brevity, such greatness. Middlebury College, indeed Vermont, is most fortunate to have a pianist and musician with this level of insight and the ability to communicate it.” (Source: “Music Review: Pianist Fanning reveals inner life of masterpieces” by Jim Lowe, The Barre Montpellier Times Argus, Oct 25, 2022)
“The year’s most spectacular solo performance — sublime might be a better word — by a Vermonter or visiting artist was pianist Diana Fanning’s recital at Middlebury College in October. One of those very few pianists whose performances of large masterpieces actually explain the music, a musical sort storytelling, the Middlebury pianist’s performance of Franz Schubert’s Sonata No. 20 in A Major, D. 959, showcased Fanning’s ability to make sense of a large complex work, missing none of its pianistic flair. She brought the same probity and excitement to works by Ravel, Chopin and Lili Boulanger.” (Source: “2022 in (classical) music: Vermont still home to some of the best” by Jim Lowe, Rutland Herald, Jan. 7, 2023)
Please consider sending a donation to Piano by Nature to help us continue to support our artists and deliver exceptional live music to the North Country and beyond. You can mail a check to Piano by Nature, 32 Champlain Ave., Westport, NY 12993. Or donate online through the Donate button below (using your Paypal account or credit card). If you have questions or ideas, feel free to call Rose at 518.962.8899. I’d love to hear from you.
Piano By Nature’s programs are made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts. We are also supported by the Essex County Arts Council’s Cultural Assistance Program Grant with funding provided by Essex County. And we’d also like to thank our many patrons and donors for their generous contributions over the past 16 years—you are keeping live music ‘alive’ in the North Country!