Pianist Orion Weiss, one of the most sought-after soloists of his generation, performs Friday, April 11 at 8 p.m. in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel in a Lawrence University 2013-14 Artist Series concert.
Tickets, at $22-24 for adults, $20-22 for seniors and $17-19 for students, are available through the Lawrence Box Office, 920-832-6749.
Known for his deeply felt style, Weiss has performed with leading orchestras across the United States, the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic among them. Internationally, he has appeared in France, Mexico and China and toured Israel under world-renowned conductor and violinist Itzhak Perlman.
Lawrence Professor of Music Catherine Kautsky praised Weiss as “one of the real rising stars of the young generation of pianists.”
“Orion is doing a fascinating, imaginative program and is well-known for his poetic playing,” said Kautsky, who teaches piano at Lawrence. “It will be wonderful to have him in town. I’m expecting a splendid concert.”
Noted by the Washington Post for his “star power,” Weiss’ virtuosity has earned him numerous honors, including the Classical Recording Foundation’s 2010 Young Artist of the Year title. His discography features a recital album of works by Bartok, Prokofiev and Bartok, which MusicWeb International praised for showcasing Weiss’s “prodigious technique.”
Weiss also released a critically acclaimed album of Gershwin pieces centered on his iconic “Rhapsody in Blue,” which Classics Today deemed “positively luscious.” The album is the first of a two-part recording project of the complete Gershwin repertoire.
Weiss attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Juilliard School, where he studied with Grammy Award-winning classical pianist Emanuel Ax.
About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2014 and the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College.” Individualized learning, the development of multiple interests and community engagement are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.
