Piano on the Rocks International Festival VII

Sandrine Erdely-Sayo, known to many in Sedona as the Artistic Director of Piano on the Rocks

Three exhilarating and inspiring concerts

Music for one and two pianos and a world premiere

Piano on the Rocks International Festival returns to Sedona on April 23-25, 2022 with three unique successive concerts and the world premiere of: Powehi for two pianos and narrator by American composer Anna Rubin. Piano on the Rocks continues its vibrant performances with three outstanding and eclectic concerts.

French pianist Jean-Marc Luisada, considered as one of the most important interpreters of Frederic Chopin’s music in the world

It will feature three pianists: the world renowned French pianist Jean-Marc Luisada, considered as one of the most important interpreters of Frederic Chopin’s music in the world, winner of Dino Ciani Competition and the famous Warsaw Chopin Competition; American pianist Cynthia Raim, known to Sedona audiences from previous festivals, winner of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland, and praised by the New York Time as “a musician of intelligence and judgment.”; French/American pianist Sandrine Erdely-Sayo, known to many in Sedona as the Artistic Director of Piano on the Rocks, youngest recipient of the French Minister of Culture Prize and prize, winner of the Ibla International Competition in Italy, described as “passionate and electrifying” by the Philadelphia Inquirer. German Mezzo-Soprano, Sonja Bruzauskas will join Piano on the Rocks for the second time. Besides her extensive stage career in opera, she is focusing on German art songs and contemporary music. She will sing several Schumann songs. Composer Anna Rubin will present her new work Powehi. In addition to two recent awards by the Maryland State Arts Council, she has been honored multiple times by both the Ohio Arts Council and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Actress Pamela Fields will narrate Anna Rubin’s new piece. Most recently, she appeared as Agatha Christie in the world premiere of Mysterious Disappearance in Phoenix. Elizabeth Peña, Co-Director of the festival and narrator, will present two poems of Platero y Yo, the story of a small donkey who lived with his poet master in the village of Moguer in Spain whose music was composed by Sandrine Erdely-Sayo.

American pianist Cynthia Raim, known to Sedona audiences from previous festivals

The festival was created on the initiative of pianist Sandrine Erdely-Sayo and narrator Elizabeth Peña who share a common passion of music, literature and poetry. The festival brings international artists and competition winners to Sedona. It explores the interconnection between solo piano literature, storytelling and literature. Our mission is to create a fusion between music and literature. The festival offers music performances of the highest quality with the aim of building bridges across diverse cultures. Offering a wealth of variety , the 2022 repertoire will include compositions from the eighteenth through the twenty first centuries. Audiences will hear renowned musicians perform works by Bartók, Chopin, Debussy, Fauré, Haydn, Liszt, Milhaud, Schubert, Schumann, Thalberg as well as the world premiere of Powehi by composer Anna Rubin for two pianos and narrator.

The festival will open Friday, April 22, 2022 at 4:00 PM at the Sedona Methodist Church. 110 Indian Cliffs Road, Sedona, AZ 86336 .

While these performances are also free, a $20 donation is appreciated.
Piano on the Rocks International Festival is made possible through the generous support of the Anna Maria Moggio Foundation, Steinway &Son and the City of Sedona.

For more information, go to www.pianoontherocks.org.
phone: (215) 941-0599

Visit www.pianoontherocks.org for a complete program description and more information.
Phone: 215-941-0599

Piano on the Rocks International Festival VI

Piano on the Rocks VI 2021

Le Chant du Monde with an American Premiere and a World Premiere

The Piano on the Rocks International Festival returns to Sedona on April 23-25, 2021 with an American premiere of a recent discovered piece by French composer Francis Poulenc and a world premiere of: Their Own Voices: Stories of Migrant Women by American composer Anna Rubin. Piano on the Rocks continues its vibrant performances with three outstanding and eclectic concerts inspired by the novel of French writer Jean Giono, “Le Chant du Monde”: a lyrical hymn to nature and life where music and nature enhance each other. It will feature the youngest recipient of the French Minister of Culture Prize French-American pianist and Artistic Director Sandrine Erdely-Sayo. She will be joined by Venezuelan soprano Sara Catarine from the opera of Bogota, soprano Barbara Di Toro, German-American mezzo-soprano Sonja Bruzauskas, award winner composer Anna Rubin and narrator and Co-Director of the festival Elizabeth Peña. One of the highlights of the festival will be the presentation of the new CD of pianist Colette Maze, 106-year old pianist, student of Alfred Cortot.

The three concerts will be held at the Sedona Arts Academy, at the Collective at 4:00 pm. The concerts will be public with a capacity of 40 people and will also be streamed live.

The festival was created on the initiative of pianist Sandrine Erdely-Sayo and narrator Elizabeth Peña, who share common passion for music, literature and poetry. This festival brings international artists and competition winners to the city of light. It explores the interconnection between solo piano literature, storytelling and literature. Its mission is to create a fusion between music and literature. The festival offers music performances of the highest quality with the aim of building bridges across diverse cultures.

Offering a wealth of variety, the 2021 repertoire will include compositions from the eighteenth through the twenty first centuries. Audiences will hear renowned musicians perform works by Brahms Chausson, Chopin, Fauré, Hahn, Lazaro, Liszt, Poulenc, Puccini, Schubert, Shostakovitch as well as the world premiere of “Their Own Voices” by composer Anna Rubin for soprano, mezzo-soprano, piano and electronics. Elizabeth Peña will present two poems of “Platero y Yo”, the story of a small donkey who lived with his poet master in the village of Moguer in Spain.

“We have been very lucky to be able to present the Festival these past two years despite this pandemic”, says Artistic Director Sandrine Erdely-Sayo, “and this difficult time makes us realize even more of the importance of the social, political and psychological functions of music.”

The festival will open Friday, April 23, at 4:00 pm at the Sedona Arts Academy at the Collective. While these performances are also free, a $20 donation is appreciated Piano on the Rocks International Festival is made possible through the generous support of the Anna Maria Moggio Foundation. Steinway & Sons piano compliments of Piano Gallery 15450 Greenway-Hayden Loop, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Visit pianoontherocks.org for a complete program description and more information.
Phone: 215-941-0599