Pianist Marina Lomazov in the spotlight with the USC Symphony Orchestra

A well-known piano concerto will be performed by a popular and dynamic pianist at the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra concert on Nov. 13. Marina Lomazov will perform the Piano Concerto in A minor, op. 16 by Edvard Grieg. This will be the first time Dr. Lomazov has performed the concerto in Columbia.

The Piano Concerto is Grieg’s best-known work and among the most-performed piano concerti. The opening bars – a roar of tympani and dazzling piano entrance – are immediately recognizable even to a casual classical music listener. The Grieg concerto won international fame after its 1869 premiere. In 1909 it became the first piano concerto ever recorded, and portions of it have been used in everything from Nike commercials to the movies “Lolita” and “The Adventures of Milo and Otis.”

“The Grieg is a quintessential romantic concerto with broad emotional range and brilliant piano writing, combined with beautiful lyricism and atmosphere,” said Dr. Lomazov, a Steinway Artist. “It is a virtuosic piece of music that requires endurance, pacing and wide range of sound and color. It’s a thrill to perform a widely known piece of music; its beauty is the foundation of its universal appeal. Whether one hears it for the first or for the hundredth time, the work stands strong and fresh on its own.”

The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. Tues., Nov. 13 at the Koger Center for the Arts. Tickets are $25; $20 for USC faculty and staff, seniors and military; and $8 for students. Call (803) 251-2222 or go to http://www.capitoltickets.com/

Check out this article in the Free Times for more about Dr. Lomazov, and visit the USC Symphony Orchestra’s website for additional concert information.

Via: USC Symphony Orchestra, Free Times