http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html SCOTT WATKINS: NEWS Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:21:40 -0800 http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#91
More and more of his once thought lost or forgotten recordings are again being reissued (thankfully) and more video of his performces is also becoming known and available. Most remarkable is his Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 in Paris with conductor Georges Pretre.

I first saw and heard him in Cincinnati in a performance of the Third Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto with conductor Jesus Lopez Cobos. I have never been the same. I heard him again in an all-Schumann recital in Chicago, and met him many times after masterclasses. He always remembered me by name - not unusual for him.

More than anything, he taught me (at my lesson, in masterclass, through interviews, and by his performances) to have faith and courage in my musical convictions; to trust my beliefs; and to always play the piano for the one person who may be listening to you because he MUST.

I invite and encourage you to learn about the artistry of Alexis Weissenberg.

RIP Maestro.]]> http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#91 Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#90
For further details, please visit http://shigerukawai.com/main_links/artists_bios/scott_watkins.html

When I play a Shigeru, I feel like a real pianist ... like an artist.

Thank you to the wonderful people at Kawai and Shigeru Kawai for this humbling honor.]]> http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#90 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#89 http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#89 Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#88
A recital program of four of Beethoven's most beloved Piano Sonatas (Pathetique, Tempest, Moonlight, Waldstein) is now available for booking. Appearances are available beginning in March, 2012 through the 2014 concert season. Also included are Piano Concertos 3 and 5. For recital booking convenience and special requests, the Piano Sonatas in B-flat major, Op. 22, and in A major, Op. 101 are available.

Your request for information and/or booking dates may be sent to beethoven@scottwatkinspianist.com

Thank you.]]> http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#88 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#87
On May 8, Watkins began his visit as Visiting Foreign Scholar at North National University in Yinchuan, Ningxia, China, where he gave six masterclasses. During this visit he also met privately with the members of the piano faculty with whom he discussed teaching challenges and goals. May 11 he gave a recital to a standing-room-only crowd which was well received. During this recital Watkins gave the Chinese premiere of composer He Jian-jun's Piano Sonata No. 1 (which he had played at Carnegie Hall in April of 2010).

May 14 Watkins travelled to Lanzhou where he performed the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto with the Lanzhou Symphony Orchestra conducted by Heping Liu. In doing so, Watkins became the first American pianist ever to perform with the city's orchestra. He has been invited to return for the 2011-2012 concert season for performances of Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto.

Upcoming in June are two appearances at the St. Augustine Music Festival. On May 18 Watkins will perform works by Franz Liszt to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the composer's birth. May 25 Watkins will join forces with Festival director Jorge Pena for a performance of Brahms' Sonata for Viola and Piano in E-flat Major.]]> http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#87 Thu, 26 May 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#83
Recital program to include Chinese composer, Jian-jun He's Piano Sonata No. 1 which I first performed at Carnegie Hall in April, 2010.

Also on the program is Beethoven's "Waldstein" Sonata, some Chopin Waltzes, and some Liszt.]]> http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#83 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#85 http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#85 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#84 http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#84 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#80
My studio class will give it's third annual Spring recital April 8 - "A Liszt Retrospective." Starring Alfred Meneses, John Shannon, Katherine Adams, Tyler Bechtle, Grace Han, Juan Rogers, Austin Clark, Kate Sobleman, Karen O'Connell, Noel West)

On April 15 I'll present my annual faculty recital. This year, to accomodate an upcoming concert tour to China in May, my program will include five Waltzes by Chopin (hope one of them is your favorite), Moszrt's dramatic Sonata in A minor, K. 310, and to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Liszt (2011) I'll perform his powerful Vallee d'Obermann, a couple of the Petrarc Sonnets (Nos. 123 and 104) and the energetic Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12.

In March, I joined the Brevard Symphony Orchestra for performances of Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major. It was a blast!

Next season is already in the planning: April 13 I'll join the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and conductor Michael Butterman in a performance of Beethoven's Concerto No. 3, then the following weekend I'll give a recital of four of Beethoven's most beloved piano sonatas ("Tempest," "Pathetique," "Moonlight," "Waldstein").]]> http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#80 Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#81
April 8: My piano studio class will present their third annual Spring recital: A Liszt Retrospective (Alfred Meneses, John Shannon, Katherine Adams, Juan Rogers, Austin Clark, Karen O'Connell, Grace Han, Kate Sobelman, Tyler Bechtle, Noel West).

April 15: Schumann's "Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13," ... a work I last played at my Carnegie Hall debut (June, 1999), plus a host of pieces by Franz Liszt (Three Petrarch Sonnets, Vallee d'Obermann, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12).

March 5&6: Liszt Second Concerto in A major with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra and conductor Christopher Confessore.

June: St. Augustine Music Festival]]> http://scottwatkinspianist.com/news.html#81 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Official Website - SCOTT WATKINS - NEWS