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HomeNewsArchivesThe Forum Brings 'Best Pianist in the World' to St. Thomas

The Forum Brings 'Best Pianist in the World' to St. Thomas

Feb. 22, 2005 – The Casals Festival of Puerto Rico and The Forum are bringing world famous pianist, Anton Kuerti, to St. Thomas on March 5. Kuerti was recently described by Fanfare Magazine as "the best pianist in the world."
He was born in Austria, grew up in the United States, and has lived in Canada for the last 35 years. He has toured 39 countries, including Japan, Russia, most of Europe, and America, where he has performed with major orchestras and conductors, among them the New York Philharmonic, the National Symphony, and the orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Denver, Detroit, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and San Francisco. His vast repertoire includes some 50 concertos, including one he composed himself.
"This guy is terrific. The more you read about him the more you realize he is it in the realm of classical music, especially Beethoven," says Brian Squires of The Forum.
Kuerti will perform a program of Beethoven Sonatas to an audience of 100 people at the residence of Margo Bachman.
"In an audience of that size it's different than being in a concert hall, so I'm sure after he would be happy to greet people," Squires says.
One of today’s most recorded artists, Kuerti has put on disc all the Beethoven Concertos and Sonatas, the Schubert Sonatas, the Brahms Concertos and works by many other composers.
The Forum has been working with the Casals Festival to bring one performer a year to St. Thomas for the past several years. "Our choice is defined by the Casals Festival, and they're looking for an act that will work for us," says Squires. "We almost inevitably are working with a small ensemble or individual."
The festival began in 1957 under the direction of the famous Puerto Rican cellist, conductor and composer, Pablo Casals. Casals remained at the helm of the Festival for 18 years until his death in 1973. Since then, the Festival has continued to follow the legacy of Casals, attracting world-famous musicians for a series of concerts and performances in San Juan during the month of March.
The evening begins with refreshments at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. Kuerti will play at 8 p.m. Tickets are $100 each and available at the Reichhold Center Box Office, 693-1559, Dockside Bookstore, Interiors at Fort Mylner and Home Again in Red Hook Plaza.

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