From Vienna to Buenos Aires with Internationally Renowned Artists Jose Cueto and Nancy Roldan

On Friday, January 23 at 8PM, international performers will offer music from several nations. The concert by two international artists Puerto Rican born violinist José Miguel Cueto and Argentine pianist Nancy Roldán is divided into “Old World” and “New World.” Throughout the evening the music performed will trace the connections between these two worlds. The concert will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, 333 Dubois Rd., Annapolis, MD 21401. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/UUCA-concerts or call 410-266-8044.

The program begins in old world Austria with Mozart’s big, radiant Sonata in B flat, K454 and then moves to Hungary with a rarely heard work by Franz Liszt, the Elegie No. 2. On to Paris and the music of one of France’s greatest composers. Francis Poulenc’s electrifying Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 119 is one of the greatest works for violin and piano of the century.

The second half of the program, “New World,” begins with a work by the great film composer John Williams, a movement from the suite of works adapted from Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. An exciting world premiere follows, Scherzo, by H. Andrew Rieger. Finally, on to Buenos Aires and the music of Astor Piazzolla who revolutionized the traditional tango. You will hear Las Cuatro Estacionones Porteñas (The Four Buenos Aires Seasons) and Allegro Tangábile, both transcriptions for violin and piano by Nancy Roldán.

José Miguel Cueto came to the US on full scholarship to study at the Peabody Conservatory. Today he is concertmaster of the Concert Artists of Baltimore Orchestra, and serves on the faculty at The Peabody Institute, The Catholic University of America, and St. Mary’s College of MD. He has toured extensively as chamber musician and soloist with orchestras in Hungary, Slovakia, China, the Czech Republic, Russia, and the Americas and was a guest in international festivals.

Nancy Roldán has performed in international festivals, at the Kennedy Center, Weill-Carnegie Hall, and Austria’s Bosendorfer Sall. Her performances have been broadcast live by NPR-Argentina and several U.S. stations including WETA. She has recorded for Centaur Records and others, is retired from The Peabody Conservatory faculty and serves on the board of The American Liszt Society, presiding over its Baltimore-Washington Chapter, and is founder/director of the Liszt-Garrison Festival & International Piano Competition held at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Photo credit: Roberto Morassi