Zenph Sound Innovations and Raleigh Little Theatre announce dates for their newest live production, Zenph Presents Jazz Legends: Gershwin At The Piano.
The show provides the thrill of actually being in the room to hear and watch George Gershwin play. The Wall Street Journal described Zenph’s work as “a technological miracle,” and The Newport Daily News reviewed the Gershwin show’s recent world premiere at the 2011 Newport Music Festival as, “Gershwin, as it was meant to be.” The groundbreaking technology that drives the show was developed by Zenph Sound Innovations, a company headquartered in the Triangle.
The show will run September 15th through October 2nd at the Raleigh Little Theatre’s Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre. The production looks at George Gershwin’s piano legacy in a way not possible before Zenph, comparing how he played with what he published. It incorporates rare film footage of Gershwin, imagery from the Gershwin estate (including his artwork), andthe pièce de résistance—the composer playing all his solo performances on a concert grand piano onstage.
“I was familiar with what Gershwin published my whole life, but it didn’t prepare me for hearing what he didn’t publish: unheard of jokes, runs, quotes, riffs – his publications aren’t the last word, they’re the tip of the iceberg,” noted Dr. John Q. Walker, Zenph co-founder and often the show’s enthusiastic host. “The ability to sit in the room, and see and hear George Gershwin himself play is amazing. On that night, that experience isn’t possible anywhere else on Earth, and it’s happening right here in the Triangle.” Walker said.
These piano performances, called Re-performances®, are the result of Zenph’s high-resolution process which precisely extracts every note, pedal movement, and nuance from Gershwin’s original playing, resulting in breathtaking and often never-before-heard renditions of Gershwin’s piano mastery.
“This show is great fun for the audience and for me as a pianist,” said Philip Amalong, one of the show’s concert pianists who is a Zenph performance analyst and noted touring pianist in his own right. “I play the Gershwin music just as it was published, and then we get to hear the man himself play the compositions. The differences are dramatic, and everyone – whether they’re a Gershwin fan or have never heard of him – walks away humming his irresistible tunes with anew insight into his music.”
“We’re very excited to offer our patrons this completely unique theater experience,” said Ellen Landau, managing director at RLT. “Gershwin At The Pianoprovides an exhilarating performance based on the fascinating intersection of music and the latest technology.”
Tickets for the show are available through the Raleigh Little Theatre web site, http://www.raleighlittletheatre.org and in person at the box office located at 301 Pogue St, Raleigh, NC, 27607. The box office phone number is 919.821.3111.
Tags: film, gaddy, george gershwin, grand piano, groundbreaking technology, jazz legends, john q walker, music, newport daily news, newport music festival, nuance, piano performances, play, raleigh little theatre, rare film footage, renditions, solo performances, sound innovations, teaching theatre, technological miracle, theatre, tip of the iceberg, wall street journal, world premiere
This entry was posted on Friday, August 26th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
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