Ursula Oppens Celebrates 80th Birthday with Avant-Garde Piano Concert

A remarkable concert took place in New York City on February 3, commemorating the 80th birthday of Ursula Oppens, a virtuoso pianist revered for her dedication to modern music. The musical festivities highlighted her influence and friendship within the contemporary music community.

Ursula Oppens: A Musical Journey

The concert began with Oppens performing 'Old and Lost Rivers' by Tobias Picker, a tranquil piece written for her, before she was later joined by Jerome Lowenthal for '12 Blocks' by Michael Stephen Brown—a piece requiring coordinated piano-playing and spoken poetry from both artists. The evening was a showcase of Oppens' impact on music, featuring a total of eight pianists each interpreting a work by a different composer.

Distinctive Performances

The selected compositions spanned a range of emotions and styles, from the rhythmic complexities of Charles Wuorinen's 'The Blue Bamboula', played by Carl Patrick Bolleia, to the temporally challenging 'Two Canons for Ursula' by Conlon Nancarrow, impressively rendered by Han Chen. John Corigliano's 'Winging It', brought to life through Matthew Griswold's performance, contrasted reflective melodies with vibrant toccatas.

Elliott Carter's 'Two Diversions' and Joan Tower's 'Or like a…an Engine', each performed by different pianists, echoed the accessible yet profound nature of contemporary music. Tania León's 'Mistica' rounded out the evening with a piece rich in cultural rhythm and tonality, masterfully presented by Natasha Gwirceman. After the performances, the event concluded with social festivities, celebrating both Oppens’ birthday and her contributions to the music world.

A Symbol of Musical Fellowship

The concluding duet by Oppens and Lowenthal was indicative of the collaborative spirit celebrating 'Ursula & Friends'. It was a night that not only honored Oppens but also emphasized the collective spirit present among the composers, pianists, and audiences. The ensemble of unique talents paid homage to both Oppens’ legacy and the ingenuity found in the broader contemporary musical landscape.

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