(above) Soprano Nina Berman and pianist Steven Beck will perform at the First Presbyterian Church of Stirling on February 9, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. as part of the Church’s free concert series.
Soprano Nina Berman and Pianist Steven Beck to Perform at First Presbyterian Church
On February 9, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., The First Presbyterian Church of Stirling will present soprano Nina Berman and pianist Steven Beck.
New York-based soprano Nina Berman returns to Stirling and has performed in a variety of settings, from vocal improvisation to opera, with a particular focus on chamber music and art song. She is active in New York, having performed as soloist and chamber musician at the city’s major venues, including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, Alice Tully Hall, B.B. King’s Blues Club, The Iridium, New York City’s Town Hall, Brooklyn’s Roulette, The Cutting Room, and SubCulture, as well as in numerous tristate area concert series, most often in collaboration with pianist Steve Beck. Nina also sings as member of Andrew McKenna Lee’s progressive, neo-psychedelic ensemble The Knells, whose recordings have been lauded by The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Daily Beast, The New Republic, The Washington Post, and many others. Upcoming projects include a recording on New Focus Recordings of the complete soprano-piano works of Milton Babbitt with pianist Steve Beck; recitals throughout the tristate area; improvisational work with jazz trombonist Thomas Sullivan; and ongoing performances with The Knells. Nina holds both a Bachelors and Masters of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the CUNY Graduate Center.
Pianist Steven Beck continues to gather acclaim for his performances and recordings. Recent career highlights include performances of Beethoven’s variations and bagatelles at Bargemusic, where he first performed the Beethoven sonata cycle. An experienced performer of new music, Beck has worked with Elliott Carter, Pierre Boulez, Henri Dutilleux, Charles Wuorinen, George Crumb, George Perle, and Fred Lerdahl, and has performed with ensembles such as Speculum Musicae and the New York New Music Ensemble. He is a member of the Da Capo Chamber Players, the Knights, and the Talea Ensemble. He is also a member of Quattro Mani, a piano duo specializing in contemporary music. As an orchestral musician he has appeared with the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Orpheus, the Mariinsky Orchestra and many others. Mr. Beck’s discography includes Peter Lieberson’s third piano concerto (for Bridge Records) and a recording of Elliott Carter’s “Double Concerto” on Albany Records. Mr. Beck is an esteemed Steinway Artist.
The afternoon’s program will include: Quilter’s Three Songs, op. 3; Rachmaninoff’s Six Romances, op. 4; Chausson’s Serenade Italienne, Serenade, Hebe, Le Colibri, and Les Papillons; and Schubert’s Schaffers Klagelied, Fruhlingsglaube, Heidenroslein, Nachtstuck, Sei mir gegrusst, and Nacht und Träume.
For more information, visit fpcstirling.org or call the First Presbyterian Church of Stirling at 908-647-1033.
This will be the sixth in the Church’s concert series for the season. Admission, as always, is free. A short reception will follow the concert at which attendees may meet the performer. Refreshments will be served.
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