October 28, 2006

American-Hungarian Freedom Concert for the Closing of 1956 Photo Exhibition at American University

Saturday, October 28, witnessed again a full house in Katzen Arts Center when two talented young pianists, the American Steven Spooner and the Hungarian Ádám György, played pieces by Liszt, Schubert, Bartók, Bach, Strauss/Dohnányi and Mozart.

Ambassador Simonyi opened the evening, yet another event  in the Embassy’s 1956 Commemoration Series. The concert marked the end of the Embassy’s 2 month-long photo exhibition devoted to 1956 held in the Center.

Steven Spooner is just out of the international competition circuit and is quickly becoming one of the more noted American pianists of his generation. He has either won or placed in the top five at: Hilton Head International Piano Competition; New Orleans International Piano Competition; Paris Conservatory; and Artlivre International Piano Competition.

Ádám György, a Steinway Artist from Hungary, has given piano recitals as all over the world from Sao Paulo to Rome and from Budapest to Bangkok. During his American Tour 2004, CNN billed him as the “Rising Star.” In November, 2006 he will be on tour in Europe and Asia playing and lecturing in St. Gallen, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Denpasar, Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming and several other cities in China.
 
Spooner and György are two of the few artists who, as classical pianists, are able to cross over and embrace larger audiences. And their joint performance on Oct. 28 signifies the joining of two cultures through the common language of music.

The concert ended by the long-lasting ovation of the audience of about 250, which included György Oláh, Hungarian born Nobel-prize winner, Andy Vajna, film-producer as well as Sándor Demján, Hungary’s most well-known entrepreneur.

Gyorgy with Hungarian business-tycoon Sandor Demjan

Adam Gyorgy chats with Andy Vajna

the artists in the company of Nobel Prize Winner George and Ms. Olah, Ambassador and Nada Simonyi

House-full...