Pianist Ann Schein To Bring ‘Powerful’ Talent To Newtown, March 11

There is often a moment of magic when pianist Ann Schein appears on stage. She walks in briskly, as if going to her living room. Then she sees the audience and pauses with a look of astonishment, as if to say: “But what are all of you doing here?”

Newtown Friends of Music will sponsor a performance by Ms Schein in the Edmond Town Hall Theater on Sunday, March  11, at 3 pm. Her performance will include works by Beethoven, Ravel, Debussy, Liszt and Chopin.

About Ann Schein, The Washington Post has written “Thank heaven for Ann Schein…what a relief it is to hear a pianist who, with no muss or fuss, simply reaches right into the heart of whatever she is playing – and creates music so powerful you cannot tear yourself away.”

Ms Schein studied at the Peabody Conservatory under the direction of Mieczyslaw Munz. In 1959, at age 19, her first recording of Chopin’s Scherzi established her as a premiere pianist. In 1961, she began lessons with Arthur Rubinstein.  The next year, she performed a solo debut at Carnegie Hall, followed by a performance at the White House in 1963 for President and Mrs John F. Kennedy. She also performed at the White House during the Johnson administration.

She has continued her career with a bold six-concert foray into the music of Frederic Chopin, high praise in major American and European cities and in more than 50 countries around the world, performances with conductors including George Szell, James Levine, Seiji Ozawa, et al; and with major orchestras including New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Washington National Symphony, London Philharmonic, and others.

Supple, brilliant technique, clarity of tone, and sustained emotional power are qualities that have been credited to Ms Schein’s playing. She has been said to interpret diverse music with great perception, showing imagination, poetic beauty and intimacy to captivate music lovers everywhere.

Single tickets for March 11 will be available at the Edmond Town Hall Box Office, which opens one hour before the concert, for $20, cash or check only. As always, students grades K-12 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.

Tickets may also be purchased in advance by sending check and self-addressed envelope to Newtown Friends of Music, PO Box 295, Newtown  CT  06470-0295. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, and can also be done by calling 203-426-6470.

Parking is free behind Edmond Town Hall and the facility is handicap accessible with all seating providing excellent viewing and acoustics. An informal reception following the concert will offer concertgoers the opportunity to greet the artist.

For information regarding other events and to print an order form for this or the next concert, visit NewtownFriendsOfMusic.org. Additional information about Friends of Music programs, the music, the artists, School Outreach Programs and reviews of past concerts are also available online.