The International Institute is pleased to present the pianist Fabio Alvarez in concert performing works by Philip Glass, one of the most important American composers of the last 50 years. This concert is part of the series of concerts, courses and events that we are organizing on minimalist music and American culture from the end of the last century. Throughout the winter and early spring we will offer programming inspired by this spring's production of the Teatro Real, the opera Nixon in China by John Adams.
In New York it is impossible, almost inevitable, not to end up captivated by the music of Philip Glass. His operas are played at the Metropolitan Opera, his portrait painted by Chuck Close is on the 86th Street subway, and that “Mad Rush” feeling is felt throughout the city. This project was born influenced by the musical moment and the circumstances of the performer, Fabio Álvarez, after having lived in the Big Apple for 7 years.
Program
Mad Rush (1981)
Studies 2, 6, 5 and 9 (1991 – 2002)
Wichita Vortex Sutra (1988)
Sonata Trilogy (2000)
Knee Play No. 4 from Einstein on the Beach Act 3 (1975)
Conclusion from Satyagraha (1979)
Dance from Act 2 of akhnaten (1983)
Knee Play 5 from Einstein on the Beach (1975) reworked by Fabio Álvarez (2019)
Important information:
About Fabio Alvarez
Awarded the Orpheus Classical Music Award (2019) and the Melómano de Oro (2019) for his first recording project ZODIAC MUSICAL (Orpheus Classical 2018), Fabio Álvarez has been defined by critics as a brilliant, impressive and sensitive pianist (Revista Musical Catalana 2019).
Fabio Álvarez, after obtaining the Degree in Interpretation at Musikene (Higher Conservatory of Music of the Basque Country) together with the teachers Ricardo Requejo and Emmanuel Ferrer-Lalöese, finished the Master of Music at the Manhattan School of Music (New York) with the highest qualification under the tutelage of the renowned pianist and educator Philip Kawin.
Specializing in contemporary repertoire with Anthony De Mare and Ricardo Descalzo, he also promotes contemporary composers around the world and has already premiered several pieces for solo piano, having personally worked with composers such as George Crumb (1929-2022), with whom he prepared his first recording project.
Fabio has played in some of the most prestigious international auditoriums such as Carnegie Hall (New York), the Juan March Foundation (Madrid), the Manuel de Falla Auditorium (Granada) or the Campos Elíseos Theater (Bilbao), and has also been selected to participate in festivals such as the NAK Contemporary Music Festival of Navarra 2019, III Festival of Women in Music, XII and XIV Cycle of Teresa Berganza Performers.
In 2022 he released his second solo album MAD RUSH - Philip Glass by the renowned record label IBS Classical, obtaining great reviews in specialized media such as the 5 stars awarded by the magazine Rhythm.
To know more about Philip Glass and read an interview with Fabio Alvarez, see our blog.
