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November 27, 2017Welsh Keyboard Virtuoso Makes His Union Debut
Pianist Llŷr Williams performs on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 3 p.m. in Memorial Chapel.
Possessing a commanding technique with a poetic sensibility, the Welsh virtuoso offers a program featuring Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque (with the familiar ‘Claire de lune’); Beethoven’s ‘Waldstein’ Sonata, Op. 53; a selection of Liszt’s transcriptions of Schubert songs, and Liszt’s tour-de-force Réminiscences de Norma (Bellini). Llŷr Williams’ eclectic taste is reflected in his discography. His latest release features the Wigmore Hall Beethoven cycle, the first two volumes of which are already available exclusively on digital platforms, while his critically acclaimed CD ‘Wagner Without Words’ reflects Williams’ intimate relationship with operatic music. Williams had previously recorded two solo albums for Signum, the first one in 2010 with music by Mussorgsky, Debussy and Liszt and the second in 2012 featuring works by Liszt. Llŷr Williams is the subject of two films produced for S4C: the first of which won a Welsh BAFTA for Best Music Programme, and the second featured his debut at Carnegie Hall.
Born in 1976 in Pentrebychan, North Wales, Williams studied music at The Queen’s College, Oxford and went on to take up a postgraduate scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music. He is also an honorary fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He was an active member of the Live Music Now! scheme for several years, was selected for Young Concert Artists in 2002. From 2003-2005 he was a BBC New Generation Artist and in 2004 received a Borletti-Buitoni Trust award.
Individual tickets are $30. All students are free. For information, call 518-388-6080 or visit http://www.unioncollegeconcerts.org.
