French-American Piano Society

in partnership with

THE CONSULATE OF FRANCE IN NEW YORK

and

SOFITEL NEW YORK

present

Suzana Bartal, Piano

“Années de Pèlerinage”

2024 Fall benefit Recital

Monday, october 14 2024 AT 6:30 PM

CONSULATE OF FRANCE IN NEW YORK

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.

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.

We are grateful to our 2024 RECITAL partners:

THE JAMES J. SHEERAN STEINWAY PIANO

At its inaugural recital on January 16th 2018, S.E. Anne Claire Legendre, Consul General of France in New York, in the company of S.E. Bertrand Lortholary, Ambassador of France in Vietam, Former Consul General of France in New York, and S.E. Francois Delattre, Ambassador of France to the United Nation, former Ambassador of France to the USA, and former Consul General of France in New York, dedicated our Steinway concert piano to

JAMES J. SHEERAN

(1923 - 2007)

A GREAT AMERICAN PATRIOT, WWII VETERAN, SON OF FRANCE, AND CHEVALIER DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR (2006) OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE

We are deeply thankful to the generous patrons

 who helped us fund our James J. Sheeran Steinway piano

CREDIT AGRICOLE CIB

NJ CURE

JCDECAUX

ALICE ROSNER FOUNDATION

COLAS, INC

COMMITTEE OF FRENCH SPEAKING SOCIETIES

CONNECTHINGS

CONSEILLERS DU COMMERCE EXTERIEUR DE LA FRANCE

MEDNEST

RATP DEV

VERONIQUE TRAVEL

and

The “88 Keys” Society Members and Patrons:

    Helene Buchen (C1#, D1#, F1&#, G1#, A1&#, F2#, G2#, A2#)

    Gilles Rousseau (G2,A2,B2,C3,D3,E3,F3,G3)

    Veronique and Pascal Carpentier (C6#, D6#, F6#, G6#, A6#)

    Ariane Daguin (B6, A6, G6, C7)

    Anne-Julia Audray (D5, F5, A4)

    Jean-Pierre Bizzari, MD (A5, B5)

    Laurence Chertoff (D2#, D3#)

    Thomas and Albane Duplan (C8, B1)

    Valerie and Gerard Duval (G7#, F7#)

    Lily Hsia (D5#, D7#)

    Susan Mackenzie (E6, C7#)

    Martha and Rick Olson (E4, G4)

    Daniel and Teresa Petitjean (F7, G7)

    Helene and Mathieu Petitjean (A0#,A4#)

    Dr. Ellie Abdi (B0)

    Catherine Munera and Alfredo Basurto (E5)

    Carey and Brett August (C6)

Veronique et Serge Banzet (A5)

    Arnaud Boyer (E7)

    Nigel Brown (G1)

    Florence and Eric Brun (G5)

    Eric and Isabelle Chaboureau (F2)

    Vésine de La Rue (D2)

    Philippe Dreano (G3#)

    Yoni Elmalem (A7#)

    Sylvie Epelbaum,MD (D4#)

    John F. Bennet, Paris-American Club (G4#)

    Bernard Frelat (F6)

    French-American Choir of New York (A4)

    Simone Galton (B3)

    Guy Geslin (D7)

    Anthony Gilroy (A3)

    Robert Gorman (D1)

    Odile Gorse (C1)

    Herve Houdre (C2)

    Laurent Kleitman (C5#)

    Remy Lumbroso (D6)

    Pierre Martin (F3#)

    Andrea Mayes (C5)

    Hanyi Meng (A7)

    Jean-Hugues Monier (E2)

    Mark Morris (A3#)

    Rick and Mary O'Connell (E1)

    Elizabeth Olson (C4)

    Claudine and Bernard Parisot (C4#)

    Joseph Patrych (G5)

    Michel and Judith Pautrat (F4)

    Jean Perrette (B7)

    Dmitry Rachmanov (F4#)

    Jerome Rose (A0)

    Sophie Schyler - Chateau Kirwan  (F5#)

    Guy Sorman (D4)

    Annaliese Soros (C2#)

    Marie-Monique Steckel (B4)

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