Mark Zeltser

Music Appreciation

May 7, 2001

Mark Zeltser, Pianist

Mark Zeltser was presented in concert Friday April 6, 2001 at the Perot Theater. This concert was a part of the 200-2001 Perot Theater Series. Dr. and Mrs. George Bohmfalk, The Wednesday Music Club and the Charles N. Temple Memorial Fund were the sponsors of this event.

Mark Zeltser is a classical pianist who has performed in such venues as New York City and London. Texarkana was very fortunate to have a pianist of Zeltsers ability to perform.

The first Sonnet performed was a very light and airy piece. The second piece, The B minor Sonata is the largest single movement piano sonata ever composed. It is considered Liszt's best work for piano. Sonata in B minor was very aggressive and it made me feel really uptight listening to it. I was waiting for the next note constantly. I thought for sure that this would be my favorite piece of the concert. I thought about it all through intermission. Some friends whom I saw a few seats over told me that the last piece was by far the best. I was eagerly anticipating that last composition.

After the intermission and the house lights were dimmed. I settled back into the concert, and decided that there was no way I would like the last piece as much as the B minor Sonata. The Fourth piece just seemed to drag by. The fifth piece got a little better. It was by Tchaikovsky and I always tend to like his music. This was no exception. I was back. It was from "The Seasons, October - The Autumn Song" and it was very enjoyable. Finally, the moment I was waiting for, and was it ever worth the wait. "Islamey" is generally considered one of the most difficult works ever written for piano. According to the program, even the composer could not play it.