One of the world’s greatest pianists, Emanuel Ax is renowned equally for his poetic temperament, unsurpassed virtuosity and exceptional breadth of performing activity.

This performance will be a solo recital.

Program:
Schubert - 4 Impromptus Op. 142
Liszt - Vallee d'Obermann
Schubert - Sonata in A major, Op. 120
Liszt - Sonetto del Petraca No. 123
Liszt - Mephisto Waltz No. 1

Background:
Emanuel Ax is renowned not only for his poetic temperament and unsurpassed virtuosity, but also for the exceptional breadth of his performing activity. Each season his distinguished career includes appearances with major symphony orchestras worldwide, recitals in the most celebrated concert halls, a variety of chamber music collaborations, the commissioning and performance of new music, and additions to his acclaimed discography on Sony BMG Masterworks.

Mr. Ax captured public attention in 1974 when, at age 25, he won the first Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition in Tel Aviv. In 1975 he won the Michaels Award of Young Concert Artists and, four years later, took the coveted Avery Fisher Prize. He made his Sony Classical debut with a collection of Chopin scherzos and mazurkas. Mr. Ax’s third volume in the recording cycle of Haydn Piano Sonatas (Nos. 29, 31, 34, 35, 49) received a Grammy® Award in February 2004 – the previous recording in the cycle (Sonata Nos. 47, 53, 32, 59) also won a Grammy®. Other recent releases include two discs of two-piano programs (with Yefim Bronfman) of works by Brahms and Rachmaninoff; period-instrument performances of Chopin’ss complete works for piano and orchestra (on two discs); and the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 with Bernard Haitink and the Boston Symphony.

In the 2005-2006 season, Mr. Ax served as Pianist-in-Residence with the Berlin Philharmonic, performing with the orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle in Berlin and New York. Additionally, Mr. Ax appeared as soloist in a U.S. tour with the National Symphony and Leonard Slatkin; recitals in London, Vienna, and at New York’s Carnegie Hall; and a duo recital tour with Richard Stoltzman.