Pianists Jenny Lin & Uri Caine to Perform Scarlatti, Mozart at LPR, 1/4
By: Tyler Peterson Dec. 01, 2015
Pianists are often presented with a quandary - to improvise or not to improvise. For acclaimed pianists Jenny Lin and Uri Caine, the response to this dilemma is: why not both? Lin and Caine's recent recording collaboration for Steinway & Sons, The Spirio Sessions, combines standard compositions from Domenico Scarlatti, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and others with improvisations by Caine, offering a new take on the classics. Selections from The Spirio Sessions will be performed live at Le Poisson Rouge on January 4, 2016 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $15-$25; purchase at lpr.com or call 212-505-3474 for the box office.
Ostensibly, classical music deals exclusively with pre-written works that remain unchanged through the centuries. However, this perspective masks the profound impact of improvisation on the course of classical music history, most notably from the live realization of figured bass notation in Renaissance and Baroque music. Classical composers like Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven were all noted in their day for being incredible improvisers. Ultimately, the line between notated classical music and improvised jazz is a fine one; in the 21st century, both genres can influence each other, and Lin and Caine's interpretations don't fit neatly into one category. Jenny Lin is one of the most respected young pianists today, admired for her adventurous programming and charismatic stage presence. Her ability to combine classical and contemporary literature has brought her to the attention of international critics and audiences. Jenny's concerts have taken her all over the world, from Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center to San Francisco, Canada, and throughout Europe and the Far East. Her most recent release on the Steinway & Sons label - a disc of Stravinsky's solo piano works - includes a rarely-recorded arrangement of the Firebird Suite by Guido Agosti.Videos
