Music series ends with world-renowned pianist

OKLAHOMA CITY — The 2010-11 Distinguished Artist Series at OCU concludes at 3 p.m. April 12 with pianist Vladimir Feltsman performing Bach, Schubert, Schumann-Liszt and Chopin. The concert, presented in partnership with Heritage Hall, will be held in the Petree Recital Hall in the Bass Music Center at Blackwelder Avenue and N.W. 25^th Street.

Feltsman’s repertoire encompasses music from the Baroque period to 20^th century composers. He has been the guest artist with leading symphony orchestras around the world.

Feltsman, born in Moscow, applied for an exit visa in 1979 due to his growing discontent with restrictions on artistic freedom under the Soviet regime. He was banned from performing in public and his recordings were suppressed.

He was granted permission to leave the Soviet Union after eight years of artistic exile. Upon arrival in the U.S. he was greeted at the White House, where he performed his first North American recital. Later that year, his debut at Carnegie Hall established him as a major pianist on the international scene.

His discography includes recordings for Melodiya, Sony Classical, Music Masters and Camerata. He has recorded eight albums of J.S. Bach’s clavier works, Beethoven’s last five piano sonatas and solo works of Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms, Messiaen and Silvestrov.

The Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University started its Distinguished Artist Series last fall to give local audiences a chance to hear master musicians perform.

Mark Parker, dean of the music school, said the series is intended to provide the public with a source of the best music the world has to offer.

“This is a chance for people to hear some great musicians perform great masterpieces, and further enrich the cultural offerings of our city,” Parker said.

Tickets for the performance are $10. Tickets are available by calling the OCU ticket office at (405) 208-5227 or by visiting www.okcu.edu/ticketoffice. For updates on events and performances at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music, visit www.facebook.com/bassschoolofmusic.