World renowned pianist to play The Smith

International prize winning pianist Thomas Pandolfi will perform a concert program of Chopin, Liszt, Scriabin and Gershwin at the Smith Opera House on Sunday, May, 15 at 2pm at The Smith Opera House, 82 Seneca Street, Geneva, NY.The young American pianist THOMAS PANDOLFI is an exciting virtuoso who, with each passing season, is becoming more and more sought after by audiences worldwide, and showered with superlatives by critics for his passionate artistry and amazing technique. His orchestral appearances often feature not only the beloved masterpiece concerti by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Liszt, but also the equally brilliant ones by Paderewski, Rubinstein and Moszkowski. Additionally in the “Pops” genre, Thomas is considered a leading interpreter of the works of George Gershwin. Thomas’ career has already included performances with such European orchestras as The George Enescu Philharmonic, The Cluj Philharmonic, The Moravian Philharmonic, The National Philharmonic of the Republic of Moldova, and The Aberystwyth Symphony in Wales, as well as the American symphony orchestras of Mississippi, Cedar Rapids, Asheville, Princeton, San Angelo, York, Fairfax, Northbrook, Great Falls, and Owensboro to name but a few. He has collaborated with such conductors as Dimitru Goia, Sabin Pautza, Peter Schmelzer, Mihail Agafita, Grigori Moseico, David Russell Hulme, Murry Sidlin, Andreas Delfs, Christian Tiemeyer, Ron Spigelman, William Kushner, Nicholas Palmer, William Hudson, Kirk Muspratt, Kim Allen Kluge, Robert Hart Baker, Crafton Beck, Lawrence Rapchak, Gordon Johnson and Vincent Zito. Following a performance of MacDowell’s D Minor Piano Concerto with The George Enescu Philharmonic, The Bucharest Cultural Observer lauded Pandolfi’s “virtuosity, beautiful touch, sensitivity and broad scope…logical phrasing and expressive percussiveness…a soloist whom we would like to hear again.” Of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Asheville Symphony, The Asheville Citizen-Times remarked, “Pandolfi is a standout among today’s young pianists, demonstrating a great technician’s grace, finesse and polish…his virtuosity and strength might have had some believing that Liszt himself had taken over the keyboard.” Equally popular as a recitalist, Pandolfi has appeared in concert halls nationwide. The Washington Post has described him as “an artist who is master of both the grand gesture and the sensual line. Pandolfi possesses first-rate technical skills, an unerring comma nd of phrasing, a quicksilver touch and cunning legerdemain when it comes to pedaling…etched with calm and crystal clarity…outstanding.” New York Concert Review has characterized Pandolfi’s interpretations as containing “high level pianism and tasteful, diversified musical ideas…crystalline texture and deft coloration… charm and bracing elan.”The 2008-09 season marked Thomas’ debut recitals in Canada, Germany and China. A favorite in a number of Eastern European countries, Thomas continues to have extended and expanded tours in that part of the world annually. Highlights during the 2009-10 season included the world premiere of British composer, Simon Proctor’s, dazzling and unique “James Bond” Piano Concerto in London, debuts with The Cluj Philharmonic in Romania, The Great Falls Symphony (MT), The Allegro Chamber Orchestra (PA), The Memphis Symphony (TN), and The American Festival Pops Orchestra as part of the Gala Opening Night of Merchant Hall at the spectacular new Hylton Performing Arts Center in Virginia. He also enjoyed return engagements with The National Philharmonic of the Republic of Moldova and The George Enescu Philharmonic in Bucharest. During the 2010-11 season, audiences will enjoy Thomas’ artistry in New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Arizona, Connecticut, Ohio, Washington, California, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. He will also be recording repertoire for his 6th CD release, as well as making debut appearances with The Craiova Philharmonic (Romania), The Pitesti Philharmonic (Romania), The Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra (PA) and The LaPorte Symphony (IN).A graduate of The Juilliard School, Pandolfi earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as a scholarship student. To keep informed of the latest updates, please visit www.ThomasPandolfi.com Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 senior/student and free to students grades 12 and under. More information can be obtained at www.thesmith.org or by calling (315) 781-5483. The Smith accepts MasterCard, Visa and Discover. Box office hours are weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 pm. The Smith Opera House is owned and operated by the Smith Center for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) organization, supported, in part, with public funds from the City of Geneva, the Town of Geneva and by contributions from individual members.