Performing Arts Concert Series Presents Matthew Bengston
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Catherine Hamby, Public Relations
610-359-5134
(Media, PA) The Delaware County Community College Performing Arts Concert Series presents critically acclaimed Matthew Bengston, Pianist, on Sunday, November 13 at 3:00 p.m. at the Marple Campus, 901 South Media Line Road, Media, PA in the Academic Building’s large auditorium. Take advantage of this super offer - tickets are free!
Critically acclaimed as a “musician’s pianist,” Matthew Bengtson has a unique combination of musical talents ranging from extraordinary pianist, to composer, analyst, and scholar of performance practice, and thus is in demand as both soloist and collaborator. As a La Gesse Fellow, he has been presented in concerts in France and Italy, Italy and Hungary, at Thomas Jefferson’s home Monticello, and in solo recitals at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. He is a favorite soloist in the Pro Musica series in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He has performed with the Reading, Pottstown and Ridgefield Symphony Orchestras, and has appeared with violinist Joshua Bell on NPR’s “Performance Today” and XM Satellite Radio’s “Classical Confidential.”
An advocate of both contemporary and rarely performed music, he commands a diverse repertoire, ranging from William Byrd to Berio and Ligeti. One special interest is the music of the early twentieth century, especially that of Alexander Scriabin and Karol Szymanowski. His doctoral research and first studio recording were devoted to Szymanowski's 22 mazurkas. His interpretation of six Scriabin Sonatas can be heard on a recent release by Roméo Records. The American Record Guide relates his recording to performances by Horowitz and Richter, praises his “rich tonal colors and dazzling technique,” and asks, “Has Scriabin ever been played better?”
Bengtson studied piano performance as a Harvard undergraduate with Patricia Zander; he also studied contemporary literature with Stephen Drury, and chamber music and performance practice with Robert Levin. He studied with Ann Schein at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, earning his MM and DMA degrees in piano performance, minoring in harpsichord with Webb Wiggins. He studied fortepiano with Malcolm Bilson on a fellowship at Cornell University. He continues to perform on all three instruments, as soloist and as collaborator, as in the Aurelio Ensemble. He is involved in an extensive recording project of early English instruments of the Charles West Wilson collection, for Griffin Renaissance Records.
For more information or to reserve your free tickets, contact Artistic Director Richard Belcastro at 610-359-5396 or email rbelcast@dccc.edu or visit dccc.edu/thearts.
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