FRENCH-AMERICAN PIANO SOCIETY

in partnership with

THE EMBASSY OF FRANCE IN WASHIGTON D.C.

LA MAISON FRANCAISE

and

SOFITEL WASHINGTON D.C.

PRESENT

Lise de la Salle, Piano

“Phantasmagoria”

2025 Off-Season Recital

TUESDAY, MARCH 25 2025 at 7:30PM

LA MAISON FRANCAISE

EMBASSY OF FRANCE, WASHINGTON DC

Lise de la salle, Piano

Performing on the LVMH Piano

“PHANTASMAGORIA”

A Journey Through Shadows and Light

In the realm of music, where sound becomes the vessel for emotion, few works capture the vast expanse of human experience as poignantly as those presented in tonight’s program. From the dreamlike narratives of Chopin’s Ballades to the impassioned fervor of Liszt’s visionary compositions, this recital invites the listener on a journey through the ethereal, the dramatic, and the sublime. The title Phantasmagoria evokes a world of fleeting visions—spectral yet vivid—where music conjures specters of longing, triumph, and transcendence.

Program

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)

Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
A masterpiece of storytelling in music, this Ballade unfolds with a hauntingly lyrical theme, developing into a storm of passion and virtuosity. Marked by its dramatic contrasts and sweeping narrative, it is one of Chopin’s most celebrated compositions.

Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

Sonata in B minor, S.178
A monumental work of the piano repertoire, Liszt’s Sonata in B minor is a single-movement epic, fusing elements of sonata form, fugue, and thematic transformation. A journey through the deepest realms of expression, it encompasses the mystical, the ferocious, and the sublime. From its enigmatic opening to its transcendent conclusion, the sonata stands as a testament to Liszt’s genius and the boundless possibilities of the piano.

~ Intermission ~

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)

Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52
The culmination of Chopin’s balladic writing, this piece is an intricate tapestry of harmonic depth and melodic ingenuity. It evolves from a delicate, poetic beginning to a climax of overwhelming intensity, demanding both technical prowess and profound musical sensitivity.

Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

Cantique d’Amour (Hymn of Love), S.173
A work of luminous beauty, this piece belongs to Liszt’s cycle Harmonies poétiques et religieuses. It is a meditation on love, exuding a celestial warmth that rises from hushed reverence to radiant grandeur.

Réminiscences de Don Juan (Reminiscences of Don Juan), S.418

A whirlwind of bravura and pathos, Liszt’s Réminiscences de Don Juan resurrects Mozart’s anti-hero in a dazzling, nightmarish vision.
It weaves seduction and damnation into a virtuosic tapestry, daring the pianist to wrestle with both fire and grace.
Here, opera becomes legend, reborn under Liszt's Romantic spell and shaped by the thunder of the piano.

A career of already over 20 years, award-winning Naïve recordings, international concert appearances – Lise de la Salle has established herself as one of today's exciting young artists and as a musician of real sensibility and maturity. Her playing inspired a Washington Post critic to write, “For much of the concert, the audience had to remember to breathe... the exhilaration didn’t let up for a second until her hands came off the keyboard.”

The 2024/25 season sees her debut with Sydney Symphony Orchestra and returns to Philharmonia Orchestra and NHK Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Fabio Luisi. Other recent highlights include major performances at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées with Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, a return to RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Stuttgarter Philharmoniker and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra. She performs recitals in prestigious concert halls such as Shanghai Concert Hall, Sydney City Recital Hall and Paris Seine Musicale.

She has played with many leading orchestras across the globe: Chicago, Boston and Washington Symphony Orchestras, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia, BBC Symphony and London Symphony Orchestras, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Münchner Philharmoniker, Dresden Staatskapelle, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de France, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale Della RAI, Rotterdam Philharmonic, St Petersburg Philharmonic, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and NHK Symphony Orchestras, Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra among many others. She collaborated with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Fabio Luisi, James Conlon, Gianandrea Noseda, Krzysztof Urbanski, Antonio Pappano, Rafael Payare, Karina Kanellakis, Lioner Bringuier, Thomas Søndergård, Fabien Gabel, Marek Janowski, Robin Ticciati, Osmö Vanska, James Gaffigan, Semyon Bychkov, and Dennis Russell Davies.

She performs in the world’s most esteemed concert halls – Vienna Musikverein, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Herkulessaal in Munich, Berlin Philharmonie, Tonhalle Zürich, Lucerne KKL, Bozar in Brussels, Wigmore and Royal Festival Halls, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Hollywood Bowl, and festivals – Klavier Festival Ruhr and Bad Kissingen, Verbier, La Roque d’Anthéron, Bucharest Enescu Festival, San Francisco Performances, Chicago Symphony recital series, Aspen and Ravinia Festivals.

She also takes pleasure in educational outreach and conducts master classes in many of the cities in which she performs.

Among her critically acclaimed Naïve CDs features an all-Chopin disc with a live recording of the Piano Concerto No.2 with Fabio Luisi conducting Staatskapelle Dresden. In 2011, her Liszt album received Diapason Magazine’s Diapason d'Or and Gramophone’s Editor's Choice. Her latest album When do we Dance? (2021) presents an odyssey of dances through a whole century.

We are grateful to our 2024 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

Code of Conduct

It is the policy of the French-American Piano Society that all attendees of Society hosted recitals, events, and associated activities are expected to exhibit respectful, and ethical behaviors.

Please review our Code of Conduct Policy here.

Report Violations of the Policy here