Daily Pioneer News

Eugene Alcalay's London debut earned him an excellent review from a distinguished pianist, music critic and pedagogue, Alberto Portugheis. (Photo by Andy McNeill)

PLATTEVILLE- University of Wisconsin-Platteville assistant professor of piano, Eugene Alcalay, earned an excellent review from Alberto Portugheis, a distinguished pianist, music critic and pedagogue at his London debut. Alcalay performed a lunchtime concert presented by the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe at St. James's Piccadilly.

"The fortunate members of the audience were treated to music and pianism of exceptional and rare qualities... As soon as Alcalay made contact with the keyboard and began to move his fingers, we knew we were in the presence of an imaginative and serious musician, who understands 'why' a composer writes a quaver and not a crotchet, or a sforzando on a particular note. His reading of the sonata was a lesson in style and commitment to the Beethoven 'soul'," Portugheis said in his review.

Alcalay was invited to perform for the Beethoven Piano Society of Europe by Carola Grindea, founder of the society. This recital has led to invitations to play in the regular series at the St. James's Piccadilly in June 2008 and a return performance for the Beethoven Society of Europe. According to his review it is Alcalay's imagination and love of the piano that makes him so successful.

Said Portugheis, "The Liszt transcription of Isolde's 'Liebestod' from Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' showed us Alcalay's command of line, colour, temperament and imagination. There were moments when one could easily hear orchestra and singers and feel as if one were at the opera house."

Alcalay began playing piano at the age of two and composing at age eight. Originally from Bucharest, Romania, he came to the United States in 1984 after his mentor, Leonard Bernstein sponsored his education with scholarships to the Indiana University School of Music, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Juilliard School in New York where he earned master's degrees in piano and composition and a doctorate in piano performance in 1998. Now a U.S. citizen, Alcalay has performed throughout the United States at places such as Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall and, in Europe and South America. In addition, he was has won competitions such as the Pittsburgh Concert Society Major Auditions and is a Steinway Artist. Steinway Artists are a group of internationally recognized pianists chosen on the basis of their international careers and prominence in piano performance.

The local community will have the opportunity to attend Alcalay's performances this year at UWP on Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Both performances will be in the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts on the UWP campus. The Sept. 22 performance is a special benefit and piano master class to raise funds for the purchase of a Steinway concert grand piano for the Richard and Helen Brodbeck Concert Hall.

"With one of the most musical performances I have ever heard of Liszt's 'Dante' Sonata, the recital came to a most rewarding end. The variety of tonal shading that emanated from the beautiful Fazioli piano, Alcalay's sense of line, of large linear shapes, his unfailing technique and his sheer love of communicating, of 'speaking' with his fingers to the audience, made this a truly memorable recital," concluded Portugheis.

Those wanting more information about Alcalay or to see a performance schedule, may visit http://www.uwplatt.edu/~alcalaye/.

Contact: Eugene Alcalay, assistant professor of piano, (608) 342-1292, alcalaye@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu