Most universities are proud of their academic ability. The University of Tampa Music Department likes to showcase not only there hardworking students, but hardworking and very talented faculty.
On Friday, Mar. 16, Grigorios Zamparas stunned the audience once again by giving another magnificent performance on the piano. His program began with Mozart’s Sonata K.281 in B-Flat Major. This was one of Mozart’s early sonatas.
“It’s a challenge for a player to play Mozart,” Grigorios said.
He explained that Mozart’s music has simple rhythm and clarity.
The next piece on his program was the World Premiere of “Galaxies” by David Clark Isele. Dr. Isele has been a music professor at UT for over 20 years and composed over 75 pieces.
“Galaxies” is comprised of movements such as Star Play, Moon Fall, and Sun Dance- all names that are appropriate for the playful sound of each movement. When he started working on this piece he started with the last movement and progressed toward a fine piece that Mr. Zamparas performed.
The final selections of the program were written by Franz Liszt. Both pieces, “Sonetto 104 del Petrarca” and “Apre une Lecture du Dante- Fantasia quasi Sonata,” were inspired by Liszt’s trip to Italy.
In Italy he heard poems by Dante and Petrarch. He filled his romantic pieces with the emotion of these poems.
After Mr. Zamparas finished the encore he played two more pieces which he dedicated to the University, “Consolation No. 3″ by Liszt and “Polonaise” in A Flat Major. As he played the pieces you could recognize his passion and dedication to his art and the University.
On Sunday, Mar. 18, the Music Department faculty created a true “Smorgasbord.”
The pieces included award winning movie soundtracks such as “The Flight of the Bumblebee” performed by Maurizio Venturini on the bassoon and Grigorios Zamparas on the piano and “George” a cabaret sung by soprano Yvonne Dechance and Tara Richards Swartzburgh on the piano.
For a light note in the performance Dr. Jeffery Traster played “Blow the Man Down.” Not only did he play this sailor’s favorite, he stood and bobbed while wearing a sailor’s hat.
More faculty artist performances are coming up. On Sunday, March 25 at 4:00 p.m. in the Grand Salon Libor Ondras, viola and viola d’ amore, and Beth Waligorski, piano present “All that Hindemith!” Pieces include Hindemeth and Vieuxtemps.
Also, be sure to check out the first public performance of the Quartet de Minaret on Tuesday, March 27 at 7:30p.m. in the Grand Salon. Lei Lu, violin, Lowell Adams, cello; Grigorios Zamparas, piano and Libor Ondras, viola. Pieces include Mozart, Isele and Schwann.
