October 5, 2007

The European Academy of Music and Art (EAMA), Things To Do and the Embassy of Hungary presented a piano concert dedicated to the 170th anniversary of the piano duel between Franz Liszt and Sigismund Thalberg on October 4th at 7pm at the Embassy of Hungary.  The concert was co-sponsored by Greg Blend, CEO of Things To Do.

Cultural Attaché Béla Gedeon with Olivia Ly, Jeffrey Ly and Cheryl Wang

The three young pianists, students of Dr. Bella Eugenia Oster of EAMA and also the winners of the 2006/2007 International Contest by IAMGC, Inc., included Olivia Ly (11 years old), Cheryl Wang (12 years old) and Jeffrey Ly (12 years old).

These musical prodigies started their music education at a very young age and maintained high international achievements on piano performance. All three pianists are winners of various international and American competitions. Their performances are highly acclaimed by prestigious institutions such as the Carnegie Hall in New York, Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Strathmore Hall in Rockville, the White House, the Pentagon, the Capitol, the State Department, the United Nations in New York, and several national congresses globally. Olivia, Cheryl and Jeffrey have been recorded on numerous CDs and profiled on international and American television programs, magazines, and newspapers.

Cheryl Wang performing the Liszt piece   Olivia and Jeffrey Ly performing the duet

The piano concert program included the following pieces:

1. Franz Liszt: Etude de Concert, “Il Lamento”, S. 144, A flat Major (performed by Cheryl Wang)

2. Sigismund Thalberg: “Concert Fantasias” on the themes of Rossini’s opera “Moise”, op. 33 (performed by Olivia Ly)

3. Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2., C sharp Minor (performed by Jeffrey Ly)

4. Sigismund Thalberg: “Grand Fantasia” on the themes of Donizetti’s opera “Don Pasquale”, op. 67 (performed by Cheryl Wang)

5. Franz Liszt: Polonaise, No. 1., C Minor (performed by Olivia Ly)

6. Sigismund Thalberg: “Grand Caprice” on the themes of Bellini’s opera “La Sonnambula”, op. 46 (performed by Jeffrey Ly)

7. Johann Brahms: Hungarian Dances, Nos. 1 and 5 (duet performed by Olivia and Jeffrey Ly)