Tara Kamangar Playing Schubert, Busoni, Hossein and Tjeknavorian

The Harvard Club of the UK, in association with Iran Heritage Foundation.

The programme will begin with Franz Schubert's Fantasy in C Major, Op. 15. Born in 1797 in a suburb of Vienna, Schubert is considered one of the greatest composers of the 19th century. The Fantasy in C Major-nicknamed the "Wanderer Fantasy" is one of his best-known and most virtuosic works for piano. Next we will hear another well-loved Fantasy, from an Italian composer: Ferruccio Busoni's Fantasy on Bizet's Carmen (1920) which presents popular themes from Bizet's opera-including the 'death' theme, the Flower Song, and the Habanera -in unexpected guises. Busoni's admiration for Bizet and Franz Liszt are demonstrated in this beautiful piece.

In the second half of the programme, we will hear works by the popular Iranian composers Aminollah Hossein and Loris Tjeknavorian: Hossein's Three Etudes and Mosaiques, and Tjeknavorian's Danses Fantastiques and Prelude and Toccata 'Zurkhane'. Both composers were born in Iran and received their conservatory training in the West (at the Paris Conservatory and the Vienna State Academy, respectively). The composers also share a passion for traditional Iranian music: Hossein was a masterful tar player, while Tjeknavorian served as Director of the National Music Archives in Tehran, in charge of collecting and researching Iranian folk-music and national instruments. Hossein's Three Etudes and Mosaiques were composed in Paris in the 1930s, when the composer was in his twenties, and demonstrate his nostalgia for his land of birth. Tjeknavorian's Danses Fantastiques and Prelude and Toccata 'Zurkhane' were written in Vienna when the composer was 22-24. The latter piece is based on the battle scene from Tjeknavorian's magnificent opera Rostam and Sohrab.

The recital will be followed by a reception.

The above works will be interpreted by Tara Kamangar, who began private studies in classical piano and violin at the age of three in Merced, California. While in high school, she placed first in several piano competitions, received the Paderewski Medal from the National Piano Guild, and studied with noted teachers worldwide as a participant of the TCU/ Van Cliburn, Aspen, Oberlin, and San Francisco International Piano Festivals. During this time, she also performed as a first violinist with the Merced Symphony Orchestra and the California All-State Orchestra, and performed Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto with two symphony orchestras.

After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, Tara attended Harvard University, receiving a BA with honors in Anthropology. While at Harvard, Tara continued her piano studies with Victor Rosenbaum, Professor of Piano at the New England Conservatory. She performed in solo and chamber recitals across campus, broadcast over WHRB 95.3FM and Voice of America's Persian language service, and formed a piano-violin duo with the Concertmistress of the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra.

Tara is currently completing postgraduate studies in piano performance at London's Royal Academy of Music, as a recipient of the Katherine Bayfield scholarship. Tara has a keen interest in promoting the works of Iranian composers. Excerpts from her recent solo recital in London's Wathen Hall were broadcast over the BBC Persian service. Upcoming performances include a solo recital in the Wattis Hall of San Francisco's Davies Symphony Hall on April 23rd, sponsored by the San Francisco Symphony League.

18 GBP.

Cheques to be issued to The Harvard Club of the UK and mailed to Roxane Zand, 9 Templewood Ave, London NW3 7UY.