Photo Flash: PREFORMANCES WITH ALLISON CHARNEY Continues Tenth Anniversary Season At Merkin Concert Hal

PREFORMANCES WITH Allison Charney offered its first evening concert of its Tenth Anniversary Season Series on Monday December 3 at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center with distinguished guest artists flutist Carol Wincenc, pianists Blair McMillen and Len Horovitz, violist Daniel Panner, mezzo-soprano Augusta Caso and veteran actor of stage and screen, Jordan Charney performing together with PREformances founder, soprano Allison Charney and collaborative pianist Craig Ketter.

A proponent of new works, PREformances' December concert featured a first look at Victoria Malawey's "The Patient Beating of the Animal Heart" commissioned by and dedicated to the ARK trio who will give the premiere performance at Macalester College this coming February. Two-thirds of the trio - Royal Stockholm Philharmonic cellist Kajsa William-Olsson and soprano Allison Charney - were on hand for this trial run.

Presenting two of the more challenging works from the 20th century, Pianist Blair McMillen wowed the audience with two sections of Messiaen's "Vingt Regards" and violist Daniel Panner gave a virtuosic rendition of the first movement of Hindemith's notoriously challenging Viola Sonata, Opus 31, #4.

The concert program's gems included a debut appearance by mezzo-soprano August Caso who sang "O Mio Fernando" from LA FAVORITA followed by the heartbreakingly beautiful duet from Act II of Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY with series founder and artistic director, soprano Allison Charney "Queen of the Flute" Carol Wincenc and pianist Len Horovitz played Cecile Chaminade's brilliant Concertino for Flute and Piano to cheers from the enthusiastic Merkin Hall audience.

As always, soprano Allison Charney concludes each PREFORMANCES with Zueignung by Strauss.

PREFORMANCES WITH Allison Charney 10th Anniversary Concert Series continues Monday February 11th, 2019 at 7:30 pm with featured guest artists Carter Brey, cello; Elizabeth Mann, flute; Donna Weng Friedman, piano. To learn more visit www.preformances.org

Photo Credit: David Andrako