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Notes on Anthony Burgess's Music in 1999

By Maureen Turquet

Since the beginning of the year, Anthony Burgess's music has been performed several times, both in the U.S. and here in France.

On February 13th, Paul Phillips directed the Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra of Greenfield, Massachusetts in the world premiere of Burgess' Piano Concerto with Gary Steigerwalt as soloist. Later that same month, Mr. Phillips was joined by his wife, soprano Kathryne Jennings, and several other New England musicians for a concert of piano, vocal, and chamber music by Anthony Burgess at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. The Brown University Orchestra had already performed Burgess' Symphony n° 3 in December of 1997, as well as his "In Memoriam Princess Grace" (a U.S. premiere) in December of 1998.

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips also included four Burgess songs in a recital at the Chamber Music Society of Longmeadow, Mass., in January of this year.

All of these performances were warmly received by the public and the press.

The BBC came to Angers in February on the occasion of Liana Burgess's visit to the Center and, as part of their preparation for a two-hour television documentary on Anthony Burgess, they filmed pianist Maureen Turquet performing a selection of Burgess' Preludes and Fugues as well as his "Tango" in the presence of Mrs. Burgess.

Plans are now in progress for future concerts, particularly in view of the scheduled 2001 Burgess symposium.

Maureen Turquet

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Last Updated on Sunday, 30 June 2013 19:02
 
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