Historical Piano Concert Series brings music to life

Historical Piano Concerts' 23rd Fall season opens with a performance by Gail Olszewski on Sunday, Sept. 2, at 4 p.m. at Ashburnham Community Church. COURTESY PHOTO

The Historical Piano Concerts from The Frederick Collection will kick off its 23rd Fall Season at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, at Ashburnham Community Church, Main Street (Route 12).

Pianist Gail Olszewski and baritone Aaron Engebreth will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2. The concert will feature a piano by Erard, built in Paris in 1839, from The Frederick Piano Collection, closely matching the period 1836-1840 when most of the music on the program was composed. Mr. Engebreth will sing a selection of songs from Robert Schumann's "Myrthen-lieder", published in 1840 as a wedding gift to his bride, Clara. Ms. Olszewski will play solo works for piano, including the "Fantasie-Impromptu" and two Nocturnes by Chopin; a Romance and a Nocturne by leading 19th century concert pianist Clara Schumann, the wife of Robert Schumann; and a Nocturne and a Rondo by Louise Farrenc, another 19th- century woman composer.

On Sunday, Sept. 16, at 4 p.m., Pianist Malcolm Halliday will perform with clarinetist Chester Brezniak. They will perform Sonata in f, Op.120, No.1, by Johannes Brahms Sonata in Bb for Clarinet & Piano, Op. 107 by Max Reger "Evenings in Vienna": Waltz-Caprices transcribed from Franz Schubert, by Franz Liszt. Piano by J.B. Streicher & Son, Vienna, 1871 from The Frederick Collection

Sharona Joshua, pianist, will perform works by Chopin, Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Field at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7. Piano to be chosen when pianist arrives from England

Sarah Grunstein, pianist, will perform Chopin's Berceuse; "Æolian Harp" etude; four mazurkas; and two Ballades; Robert Schumann's "Carnaval" at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14. Piano by Ignace Pleyel, Paris, 1845 from The Frederick Collection

This concert series brings audiences to Ashburnham from as far away as Boston, Amherst, Nashua NH and Providence RI as well as from New York City and New York State. It is the only concert series in America based on original concert grand pianos built between 1790 and 1907 in programs of music written at the periods of the instruments. Each concert features a single piano in music of its own time and place, performed by professional musicians in solo, duo or chamber ensemble repertoire. Pianos in the Frederick Collection are noted for their beautiful tone, bringing the music to life in new ways for musicians and audiences.

Admission to the concert is $10; children and students, free (no advance reservations). The Ashburnham Community Church, at the corner of Main and Chapel Streets, is handicapped-accessible.

For more information, call the Fredericks at (978) 827-6232, or visit www. FrederickCollection.org.