October 23, 2009

Singer Kozena withdraws from Shriver Hall Concert Series

Shriver Hall Concert Series announced last week that mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozena has withdrawn from her Feb. 21 series recital with pianist Yefim Bronfman, citing personal reasons. Kozena has also withdrawn from her associated recital tour dates, including one at Carnegie Hall.

Bronfman, an audience favorite, will now play a solo recital on that date: Beethoven’s 32 Variations in C Minor; Schumann’s Faschingsschwank aus Wien; Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 14; and Tchaikovsky’s Sonata in G Major, Op. 37.

Bronfman is regarded worldwide as one of the greatest virtuoso pianists performing today. He has also won widespread praise for his recordings, including a Grammy in 1997 for the three Bartok Piano Concertos with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Born in Tashkent in 1958, Bronfman immigrated to Israel with his family in 1973 and made his international debut two years later. In the United States, he studied at Juilliard, Marlboro and the Curtis Institute, and with Rudolf Firkusny, Leon Fleisher and Rudolf Serkin.

For more information, or to order tickets, go to www.shriverconcerts.org or call 410-516-7164.