Concert: Masterworks Conversation Presentation of “Gypsy Fire”

Pianists Matthew Harrison and Vlada Yaneva return for another superb performance, with lively narration. There is perhaps no more mythical figure in music than the gypsy: wild and free, with eyes that pierce the soul and a virtuosity that empties the pockets, the gypsy can turn a phrase from a smile to a tear within a single note. The greatest musicians have tried to capture their improvisatory nature in pieces that pay homage to the gypsy musician. Franz Liszt drew inspiration from the nomadic tribes of his Hungarian homeland, while Johannes Brahms too found freedom in the ease of their manner. Rachmaninoff in Russia was taken to gypsy camps by his piano teacher and was musically caught with their mystic charm. From whirlwind rhapsodies to lively dances, Gypsy Fire is bound to ignite your musical spirit! Suggested donation: $2.00. Made possible by the Friends of NRPL. Ossie Davis Theater.