Columbia Sounds Concert: A Romantic Salon

Romantic era salon concerts taking place in 19th century Paris became important laboratories of creativity for the major pianists of the time, including Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, and Friedrich Kalkbrenner among many others.

With a small audience gathered in such intimate settings, musicians pushed the boundaries of their artform. They showcased innovative approaches to piano technique and expression through frequent improvising of preludes and fantasies while also premiering original compositions and interpreting works of the past. These salons, providing something between public concert and private demonstration, encouraged the performers to take risks with new material and facilitated the experimental and somewhat unpredictable nature of these events.

Inspired to continue cultivating this concert format, pianist John Kamfonas launches the first "Romantic Salon" at Reid Hall with a program spanning several centuries that will include works by Scarlatti, Brahms and John Corigliano in addition to his own improvised fantasies.