Oracle – On Saturday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., the Oracle Piano Society is presenting a Piano Story-time for children 5-10 years of age at the Oracle Union Church, Trowbridge Hall, 705 E. American Way in Oracle. Admission is free.
Lead by Elaine Helzer, Chairman and Earlene Lewis, Director, this multi-media activity, with the theme of The Strawberry Skunk, will include music, drawing and story telling based on the book. A prize will be awarded for drawing.
On Sunday, March 1, starting at 3 p.m., a more adult theme will be offered. The Oracle Piano Society’s own founder and Artistic Director, Dr. Stephen Cook will be featured in a Spring concert which has, as its focal point, Gaspard de la nuit.
Gaspard de la nuit is a legendary piano suite by the French composer Maurice Ravel. It has been called the most difficult piano work ever written, requiring “wrists of steel, fingers with eyes in them.” It is a work of stunning imagination and “transcendent virtuosity”. Loosely translated Sorcerer of the Night, Ravel’s piano suite contains three scenes of fantasy and the macabre selected from a mysterious book of Gothic poetry by Aloysius Bertrand. This collection contains over 70 tableaux depicting angels, fairy’s, ghouls, and goblins in a medieval setting.
Keeping in line with the Oracle Piano’s Society’s mission to promote artistic fusion, Cook will punctuate his piano performances with visual projections and recitations of Bertrand’s poetry, which initially inspired inspired Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit. Also on program: Ravel’s Sonatine accompanied by Cook’s own selections from Bertrand’s writings.
This concert will be held at 39900 S. Clubhouse Dr. in Tucson. Advance tickets can be purchased at http://tickets.saddlebrooketwo.com for $25 or tickets can be purchased at the door for $30. Students with ID cards get in for free. Call 520-825-2818 for more information.
The two events, above, are the showpieces of the Oracle Piano Society’s plans for an entertaining Spring, but, for the days in-between. a free piano launch party and pre-concert teaser is planned for Sunday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m.. This is in celebration of Arizona Opera having donated a seven-foot Baldwin grand piano to the Society. Come to Loper Hall at Campo Bonito, Y Camp to join in. Admission is free.
For more information on the Oracle Piano Society and its events, visit their site online at
:www.oraclepianosociety.org or their Facebook page at facebook.com/oraclepianosociety.