Lara Downes: The Romantics
THE ROMANTICS celebrates two historic anniversaries in 2010: the bicentennial of the birth of Frederic Chopin and the 100th birthday of Samuel Barber. LARA DOWNES, one of today's most engaging and communicative young pianists, acclaimed by the Washington Post for the “drama and nuance” of her playing, explores the romantic sensibilities of the 19th and 20th centuries in unique pairings of parallel works by these two iconic composers. The music of Chopin defines pianistic Romanticism, with unparalleled lyricism, nuance and expressive depth. Samuel Barber's music, masterfully crafted and built on romantic structures and sensibilities, is at once lyrical, rhythmically complex, and harmonically rich. Together, the two composers represent the transition from classicism to modernity, and the timelessness of the romantic soul.
LARA DOWNES is renowned for creating recital programs that reflect the mission of an outstanding musician who wants to share with the world the music she loves and the music she discovers. Her artistry and passion thrill audiences of all ages and backgrounds. It’s all about the fresh way she presents the music, introducing us to things that are totally new and taking us on thrilling voyages of discovery into territory we thought we already knew.