In an artistic collaboration that marries the beautiful intonations of the flute with the many colorations of the piano, musicians Paula Robison and Jeremy Denk perform together at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, Saturday, April 6 at 8 p.m. a pre-concert "Art to Heart" discussion with Dr. Laura Nash, director of the university's classical music department, will take place from 7 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.

The French-inspired program opens with Francis Poulenc's "Sonata for Flute and Piano." The composition reflects Poulenc's two melodic styles: A straightforward and tuneful style based on the ditties of street performers, and a more deeply-felt style, as exhibited in his opera and religious works. Next on the program are three works by composer Claude Debussy: "Syrinx for Solo Flute"; "Two Preludes for Solo Piano"; and "Four Melodies for Flute and Piano." Debussy's work is followed by Benjamin Godard's "Suite de Trois Morceaux for Flute and Piano." Finally, the program concludes with Robison's adaptation of Gabriel Fauré's "Sonata for Flute and Piano in A Major."

Praised for her technical mastery, beautifully varied tone and diverse repertoire, Robison has been called "The First Lady of the Flute." She performs classical recitals in venues around the world, often partnering with Denk, guitarist Eliot Fisk or pianist Timothy Hester. Her annual performances at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art feature thematic programs of music by Vivaldi, Mozart, Debussy and other composers. Denk has recorded nine CDs; two of them-"Brasileirinho" and "Rio Days, Rio Nights"-reflect her interest in Brazilian music.

Currently co-director of Boston's Gardner Chamber Orchestra, Robison helped found the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and served as co-director of chamber music for the Italian and American Spoleto festivals. As a student at The Julliard School, the Tennessee-born flutist was invited by Leonard Bernstein to be a guest soloist with the New York Philharmonic. She was 19.

Denk, a pianist always in search of greater heights, has won numerous awards. He was a 1997 winner of the Young Artists International Auditions and a 1998 recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant. His performances include the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Julliard Orchestra at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall and the Brahms Piano Concerto in D Minor with London's Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall.

The performance is part of the Quick Center's "French Showcase: Evolving Arts," an eight-week festival celebrating the contributions of the French to the worlds of arts and letters. Tickets are $30, $27 and $24. Call the box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll-free at 1-877-ARTS-396 or visit the website, www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 03-20-2002 09:03 AM

Volume: 34 Number: 177