Pianist Charles Rosen Bids Farewell to the University of Chicago

Eminent concert pianist Charles Rosen, Professor in the Committee on Social Thought and in Music at the University of Chicago for the past 10 years, will perform a series of three farewell concerts on campus in April.

“This may be a rare opportunity to hear such a wide variety of music from one of the greatest living concert pianists,” said Anne Walters Robertson, University of Chicago Associate Professor and Chairman of Music.

Rosen, who retired from the University March 31, will perform as a guest artist of the Contemporary Chamber Players on Thursday, April 25; in a solo recital Friday, April 26; and as a soloist with the University Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, April 27. All concerts will be held at 8 p.m. in the University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall.

Rosen will also be a speaker in the Fromm Conversations, a symposium at which panelists will discuss the state of, and prospects for, contemporary concert music in America. The symposium will be held from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14, in Mandel Hall, with the annual Paul Fromm Concert following at 8 p.m.

Throughout his academic career, Rosen has been known for his scholarship in music. The New York Times called his book The Romantic Generation (1995) “that rarity: a work of detailed musical analysis that combines profound scholarship with artistic intuition.”

He is also known for his books The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven(1971), winner of the National Book Award, and The Sonata Forms (1970), which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Rosen will continue to perform in concert after his retirement and has plans to play in Montreal and Rome this spring.

A distinguished recording artist, Rosen has a diverse discography. Among his most highly acclaimed recordings are the three-record sets “The Last Keyboard Works of Johann Sebastian Bach” and “The Last Six Beethoven Sonatas.” He received a Grammy Award nomination for his recording of Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations. Igor Stravinsky invited him to record his Movements for Piano and Orchestra, and Elliott Carter his Double Concerto.

For a list of Rosen’s farewell performances, please see the reverse. Rosen will be performing on the following dates at 8 p.m. in the University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall. For more information call Evanne Christian at 702-8068. Thursday, April 25

Guest Artist of the Contemporary Chamber Players

Elliott Carter:Night Fantasies (1980)

Tickets: $15/$8 students Friday, April 26

Solo recital

Beethoven:Sonata in A-flat Major No. 31, Op. 110

Schuman:Fantasie in C (the original manuscript version)

Chopin:Barcarole in F# Major, Op. 60 ^* Two Mazurkas

Waltz in C# Minor, Op. 64, no. 2

Nocturne in B Major, Op. 62

Tickets $15/$8 (students) Saturday, April 27

Soloist with the University Symphony Orchestra–Barbara Schubert, conductor

Brahms:Piano concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15

Advanced Reserved seating $10 Rosen will be speaking at 2:00 p.m. in Mandel Hall as part of the “Fromm Conversations: Chicago Edition” on Sunday, April 14. Admission to the Symposium and concert is free, though tickets are required. Call 702-8068 to reserve seats and for more information.