Recitals in the Rotunda Series Begins With “A Night To Remember With Dorfman And Katahn”

Release Date: 9/1/2000. Expired: 9/11/2000

A delight to hear and see, Amy Dorfman and Enid Katahn, duo pianists, play with riveting intensity and exquisite precision. Performing in the rotunda at The Renaissance Center on Monday, September 11, 2000 at 7:00 p.m., these two distinctive musical personalities begin our new season of the Recitals in the Rotunda series. Dorfman and Katahn will open with William Bolcom’s Recuerdos: Three Traditional Latin-American Dances. The duo will follow with Claude Debussy’s lushly evocative Nocturnes: Nuages and Fêtes. Following a brief intermission, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s romantic Fantasy (Suite No. 1) will wrap up this two-piano concert which promises a night of dramatic, high-energy entertainment that will be “A Night To Remember.”

Pianist Amy Dorfman has been described as an artist with a “formidable technique” who possesses the ability to be poised and sensitive. Her dynamic career has included annual solo recitals at the Nordhessen Fest in Germany since 1986 and she has been guest artist at such prestigious festivals as the Sedona Music Festival and the Northwest Chamber Music Festival in Oregon. Longtime accompanist of the celebrated bassist Edgar Meyer, Dorfman has joined Meyer in broadcasts on National Public Radio’s St. Paul Sunday and in recitals from San Francisco to New York City. Dorfman was a recipient of the Individual Artist Award from the Tennessee Arts Commission. In addition to Dorfman/Katahn Duo recitals, she has collaborated with the Tennessee Dance Theater and Blair String Quartet. Dorfman is currently Assistant Professor of Music at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.

“Unforgettable music-making by a consummate artist” was the way an English critic described one of Enid Katahn’s Wigmore Hall recitals. In demand for lectures and master classes as well as recitals in the United States and abroad, Katahn has also recorded for the BBC and appears regularly on radio and public television. Her series of CD’s featuring the piano works of French composers such as Pierre Max Dubois, Cécile Chaminade, and Albert Roussel has garnered much critical acclaim as has her CD of Carl Nielson’s music. Investigation into historical tunings, with piano technician Edward Foote, yielded Beethoven in the Temperaments, a CD of Beethoven sonatas in two different tunings common in Beethoven’s day. Katahn is Professor of Piano at the Blair School of Music.

“We are very excited to have these two outstanding pianists join us in the rotunda for the grand opening of our recital series,” said Damon Stevens, director of piano at the center.

Recitals in the Rotunda are celebrations of classical music and are absolutely free to the public. They are scheduled on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. every two weeks beginning September 11th. Faculty and students from the prestigious Blair School of Music, the Nashville Symphony, Lipscomb University and Austin Peay State University perform in the rotunda of The Renaissance Center to provide an evening of enchantment and enrichment that is available to everyone at no cost.

“For the classical music enthusiast and music lover in general, the Recitals in the Rotunda Series is a unique way to take advantage of an evening with professional and accomplished student musicians,” Stevens continues.

“Following the Dorfman and Katahn recital on September 11th will be David Finney, pianist, a Dickson Senior High School graduate and student at Lipscomb University on September 25th. On October 9th, we will present Sam Barlow on trombone and Leah Bowes on piano.

“John Johns, faculty at the Blair School of Music, will perform a classical guitar recital on October 23rd. November 6th brings the musical talents of Nashville Symphony member Denise Baker on violin and Blair School's Melissa Rose on piano. Austin Peay faculty member, Vicki King, will perform a piano recital on November 20th. December 4th will bring together a trio of talent presenting Patrice Jegou, voice, accompanied by Mario da Silva on guitar and Susan Brown on piano.”

“The recital series is a wonderful opportunity for us to provide high quality musical performances to our community,” said Doug Jackson, executive director of the center.

Everyone is welcome to attend the Recitals in the Rotunda free of charge. While there, visitors can go to the Visual Arts Gallery to see the exhibit as well. For more information on the recital series, please call at (615)740-5600.