From BGSU OFFICE OF MARKETING & BRAND STRATEGY
Acclaimed pianist Vicky Chow will perform a free, public concert Monday, Feb. 5, at 8 p.m. in Bryan Recital Hall at the Moore Musical Arts Building on the Bowling Green State University campus. The performance is part of the 2023-24 Music at the Forefront series.
Presented by the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music in the BGSU College of Musical Arts, Chow’s performance will feature selections from the first book of Piano Études by legendary American composer and artist Philip Glass. The pianist recently released a recording of these works on Cantaloupe Records.
“When I first encountered these pieces, I was brought back to my roots of playing piano,” Chow said of Glass’ works. “Each one is so different — they can be very sophisticated and simple at the same time. For me, it was all about going back to playing acoustic piano, with no electronics or extended technique or preparation, and utilizing that part of my brain.”
The original Études were compiled into two books of 10 individual pieces each. While the work has been recorded by numerous pianists over the years, Chow’s interpretation stands out due to her connections with Glass himself and their shared presence in New York City’s new music community.
This is a return visit for Chow who presented a Music at the Forefront concert of Tristan Perich’s “Surface Image” at the ClaZel in January, 2016.
[RELATED: Cosmic sounds of ‘Surface Image’ transform ClaZel]
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Chow is based in Brooklyn, New York, and serves as faculty at the Bang on a Can Summer Institute and has been on faculty at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. She is on the board of advisors for Composers Now and is also a mentor at The Juilliard School. Chow is a graduate of The Juilliard School and The Manhattan School of Music.
Music at the Forefront is an annual concert series featuring performances by accomplished and innovative performers of contemporary music.
For more information, visit BGSU.edu/maccm.
