Albany, NY -- The Music Program of the University at Albany’s Department of Music and Theatre is pleased to present faculty member Max Lifchitz in American Romantics, a concert honoring American composers, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7pm at the UAlbany Performing Arts Center on the uptown University at Albany campus at 1400 Washington Avenue. The concert will be highlighted by George Gershwin’s ever-popular Rhapsody in Blue, marking the 100th anniversary of the work’s premiere in 1924 at Aeolian Hall in New York City with the composer at the piano.

Built around American piano music spanning two centuries, the recital will open with the rarely heard Yankee Doodle with Variations by James Hewitt published in New York City in 1807. Also included will be premieres of recently completed works by Allan Crossman, Robert Fleisher, John McGinn and Harold Schiffman. Rounding out the program will be the first New York performance of Scenes of Traditional Life by Nigerian American composer Olatunji Akin Euba as well as Lifchitz’s own Wedding Cake Tango.

Winner of the first prize in the 1976 International Gaudeamus Competition for Performers of Twentieth Century Music held in Holland, Lifchitz has appeared locally as soloist with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Clifton Park Chamber Orchestra and UAlbany Symphony Orchestra. The San Francisco Chronicle described him as "a composer of brilliant imagination and a stunning, ultra-sensitive pianist." The New York Times praised him for his "clean, measured and sensitive performances." 

Lifchitz has been associated with the University at Albany since 1986. He is also the director of the New York City based performing organization North/South Consonance, Inc.

Admission to this event is free. No reservations or tickets are required.  For further information, contact the UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s main office at (518) 442-3995 or [email protected].

The concert is made possible, in part, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts.