FRENCH-AMERICAN PIANO SOCIETY

in partnership with

THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN WASHIGTON D.C.

LA MAISON FRANCAISE

and

SOFITEL WASHINGTON D.C.

PRESENT

Suzana Bartal, Piano

“Années de Pèlerinage”

2024 Fall benefit Recital

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 2024 at 7:30PM

LA MAISON FRANCAISE

EMBASSY OF FRANCE, WASHINGTON DC

PROGRAM

Suzana Bartal, Piano

Performing on the James E. Sheeran Steinway Piano

“Années de Pèlerinage”

Introduction:

Années de Pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage) by Franz Liszt is a monumental collection of piano pieces that captures the essence of Romanticism. Spanning three volumes, the work reflects Liszt’s deep personal and artistic journey through the landscapes, art, and literature of Europe. Each piece in the collection is a vivid musical painting, infused with the sights and emotions Liszt experienced during his travels in Switzerland and Italy.

The first volume, "Switzerland," evokes the natural beauty of the Swiss Alps, with pieces like "Vallée d’Obermann" expressing profound introspection.

The second volume, "Italy," draws inspiration from the art and poetry of the Italian Renaissance, with works such as "Petrarch Sonnets" and "Dante Sonata" exploring themes of love, spirituality, and existential struggle.

The third volume, composed later in Liszt’s life, reflects his evolving spirituality and the trials of his later years.

Années de Pèlerinage is not merely a travelogue in music; it is a profound exploration of the human condition, where the landscapes of the physical world mirror the landscapes of the soul. The work remains one of Liszt’s most personal and enduring contributions to the piano repertoire, showcasing his virtuosic brilliance and deep philosophical musings. Through these pieces, Liszt invites listeners on a pilgrimage of their own, exploring the depths of emotion and the transcendent power of art.

 Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886)

Première Année de Pèlerinage: Suisse, S.160 (1855)

Les cloches de Genève: Nocturne, in B major

Orage, in C minor

Vallée d'Obermann, in E minor

Deuxième Année de Pèlerinage: Italie, S.161 (1858)

Sposalizio, in E major

Après une lecture du Dante, in D minor

Troisième Année de Pèlerinage, S.163 (1883)

Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este, in F# major

Suzana Bartal: A Virtuoso Pianist's Journey Through Prestigious Stages and Acclaimed Recordings

Suzana Bartal is a celebrated pianist renowned for her "brilliant, full of shades and virtuosic" playing. She has established herself as one of the foremost pianists of her generation, performing at prestigious venues such as the Paris Philharmonie, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Merkin Hall in New York, and Milton Court in London. Additionally, she has graced festivals like the Festival de Pâques Aix-en-Provence, Rencontres Musicales Evian, Festival Berlioz, International Music Festival de Besançon, Kaposvar Chamber Music Festival in Hungary, Schloss Elmau in Germany, and Turku Music Festival in Finland.

Bartal's performances have been broadcast on ARTE Concert and major radio stations, including France Musique, Belgian Radio RTBF3, Rai 3 Radio Italy, Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), and Danish Radio (DR), among others. Her recording of Liszt's “Années de pèlerinage” received high praise, with the Bonner Anzeiger hailing her as the "new priestess" of Liszt's piano. This album won a prize from the Liszt Society in Budapest and received "5 stars" from Fono Forum and Classical Source UK.

Her most recent CD, released in May 2022 on Erato/Warner Classics, features chamber music by Eric Tanguy with distinguished partners like Edgar Moreau and the Diotima Quartet. This recording earned the Diapason d’Or of the Year 2022. In 2023, she released a duo album with flutist Noémi Győri on Hungaroton. Bartal's first solo album, featuring works by Schumann, was warmly received by critics and was a "Coup de coeur" on Radio France Internationale.

Bartal was appointed artistic director of the Festival Piano à Riom in 2020. She has performed with renowned conductors such as Marc Minkowski and Christian Vasquez and with orchestras including the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Orchestre National d’Auvergne. Her extensive repertoire spans solo works, concertos, and chamber music, performing worldwide in countries like Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, the US, China, and Japan.

An advocate for contemporary music, Bartal has worked with notable composers like Thomas Adès and Eric Tanguy. She premiered Tanguy's “Rhapsodie” for viola and piano at the Festival de Pâques Aix-en-Provence, receiving acclaim for her “jubilatory virtuosity.” She has also collaborated with Oscar-winning composer Gabriel Yared.

Bartal is an active chamber musician, performing with leading artists such as violinists Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Kristóf Baráti, violists Lise Berthaud and Adrien La Marca, cellists Henri Demarquette and Edgar Moreau, and clarinetists Pierre Génisson and Raphaël Sévère. She has performed with esteemed quartets like the Quatuor Diotima and Emerson Quartet.

Winner of the New York Concert Artists Concerto Competition in 2013, Bartal made her NYC debut with orchestra in 2014. She also won the 2012 Woolsey Concerto Competition and received scholarships from the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe and Fondation Nadia et Lili Boulanger. Born in Timişoara, Romania, Bartal began her musical education early, winning national and international competitions. She moved to France in 2005 to study with Denis Pascal and later honed her skills at the Yale School of Music under Peter Frankl, earning a Doctorate of Musical Arts and the Harriet Gibbs Memorial Prize for excellence.

Bartal's musical development has been shaped by distinguished artists such as Sir András Schiff and Leon Fleisher, and she has participated in the International Musician’s Seminar in Prussia Cove, UK. Her career continues to flourish as she performs and records, solidifying her reputation as a leading pianist of her generation.

We are grateful to our 2023 patrons and partners:

THE YOUNG PIANISTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Young Pianists Scholarship Program, spearheaded by the French-American Piano Society, is a distinguished initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of French piano virtuosos for U.S. audiences. This program offers exceptional young pianists an invaluable opportunity to advance their international presence and experience. Selected scholars from the Conservatoire National de Paris benefit from access to world-class performance venues at the Consulate of France in New York and the Embassy of France in Washington, D.C., where they are exposed to and meet curious and supportive U.S. audiences.

THE LVMH PIANO

At its inaugural recital on November 16 2023, S.E. Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France in the United States of America, in the company of S.E. Philippe Etienne, Former Ambassador of France, Anish Melwani, Chairman and CEO of LVMH USA and Dr. Mathieu Petitjean, Founder and President of the French American Piano Society inaugurated the LVMH Piano. Pianist Helene Tysman, in a highly attended recital, breathed life into the instrument.

A plaque with the following statement is located on the cover of the piano:

THE FRENCH-AMERICAN PIANO SOCIETY

RECOGNIZES THE GENEROUS DONATION OF LVMH AND FIFTY PATRONS

WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PIANO

HERE IN NAMED IN THEIR HONOR

THE LVMH PIANO

In August 2022, a gathering of representatives from the Albertine Cultural Services of the Embassy of France and the French-American Piano Society converged in Washington. Their purpose was to collaborate with Ambassador Philippe Etienne and craft a visionary plan for the renovation of La Maison Francaise's recital hall and cultural program. Buoyed by a decade of success in New York, marked by the acquisition of a Steinway grand piano, the awarding of 17 scholarships to young French pianists, and over 40 memorable recitals, the team aspired to extend this triumph to the heart of Washington. This endeavor, infused with a profound sense of revival after three years of pandemic-induced silence, became a poignant expression of resilience.

The dream that unfolded encompassed the acquisition of another Steinway grand piano and the launch of a four-year cultural program featuring recitals, scholarships, and exchanges. Its essence aimed to elevate and spotlight French pianists and the rich repertoire of French piano music in the United States. United by this ambitious vision, the team coalesced with fervor, raising the required funds in record time.

At the core of this transformative project stood LVMH, a crucial catalyst swiftly joined by Levine Music and fifty passionate patrons who became part of the "88 Keys" program, where each key was sponsored. The success of the fundraising campaign culminated in a jubilant celebration in December 2022, marked by a high-profile recital featuring Maestro Pascal Roger and his accomplished duo partner, Barbara Binet.

Fast forward to May 2023, a pivotal moment unfolded in collaboration with Steinway & Sons. Maestro Jean-Yves Thibaudet and Artistic Director Matthieu Cognet meticulously selected the LVMH piano at the Steinway & Sons Factory in New York. Though the choice among five concert pianos might typically be an intricate decision, in this case, it evolved into a "love at first sight" narrative. The piano, distinguished within a mere 30 minutes, was then showcased through an impromptu recital, revealing its delicate, rich, and colorful sonic palette.

The culmination of this journey arrived in June 2023 when the LVMH piano found its new home at the Embassy of France. A momentous inauguration followed on November 16, 2023, as pianist Helene Tysman, in a highly attended recital, breathed life into the instrument. This event not only marked the inauguration of the LVMH piano but also the birth of the French-American Piano Society, celebrated in its inaugural recital at the Consulate of France on April 15, 2014, under the enchanting fingers of Helene Tysman.

LEADERSHIP BENEFACTOR

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton

FOUNDING DONORS CIRCLE

$20,000 and above

The Levine Music

$10,000 and above

Dr. Helene Petitjean and Dr. Mathieu Petitjean

$5,000 and above

The Staff of the Embassy of France

Archimed

Mrs. Calvin Cafritz

Doria And Calavino Donati, Tipple And Rose Tea Parlor Princeton

Harald Greve and Janis Sell

$2,000 and above

Anonymous

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Employee Giving Program

Patricia and Philippe Etienne

Rhona Wolfe Friedman, Esq. and Donald J. Friedman, Esq.

Dr. David Kosutic

David M. and Susan S. Thoms

Maggie Hua et Stanislas Vilgrain

$1,000

Gregory Bernstein and Anna Katalkina

Olivier Bogillot

Alexandra de Borchgrave

Larry Chertoff

Louis Dillais

Edwige Dorel-Torgue

Jeannette Abécassis-Elmalem

French-American Chamber of Commerce, Washington D.C.

Stephen and Laure Fuller

Garnier-Thiebaut USA

Tamara Haddad

Marianne J. Hart and Colin R. Hart

Kimberley A. Heatherington

The Hitchcock Hoagland Foundation in honor of Ambassador Phillippe Etienne

Resources USA Inc.

Judy and Peter Blum Kovler Foundation

Jack and Ellette Kozak

Bénédicte and Jean-Philippe Krukowicz

Alexander Wolf Levy

Jodie McLean and Pierre de Lucy

Thais Mark and Sasha Mark, MD

Roxana Nikdjou-van der Mensbrugghe

Farha Mir, MD and Mitra Dowlatshahi, MD

Claire Mittaud | Theodore Pary

Nina Pillsbury

Cedric Sage

Thomas and Deborah Silverstein

Annie Simonian Totah, Founder & President of the Sami and Annie Totah Family Foundation

Michael L. White

Michel and Lucie Wormser

Marie Hélène et Daniel Zavala

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