Latest news with #CarnegieHall
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
5-Year-Old Piano Prodigy Makes His Debut at Carnegie Hall: 'Such an Amazing Time'
A 5-year-old piano prodigy just made his debut at Carnegie Hall. Alec Van Khajadourian of Los Angeles made his debut during the NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert on Sunday, July 20, according to ABC affiliate WABC-TV and NBC affiliate KNBC. He was the youngest person to ever perform at the event, described by Carnegie Hall as "an international competition open to musicians of all ages" in which performers are chosen by a competition jury. Khajadourian is also the youngest person to ever perform at the prestigious New York City concert venue, Pietro Molteni, founder and artistic director for the Gala Concert, told the New York Post. 'I can't wait to get on stage at Carnegie Hall and play for everyone,' Khajadourian told the Post prior to his performance. 'I'm so excited!' Joe Khajadourian and Diana Sanders, Alec's parents, discovered their son's talent when the boy was a toddler, according to KNBC. In about a year, Alec began learning complicated classical music without reading sheet music. Alec has perfect pitch, which only occurs in about 1 of every 100,000 people, according to WABC-TV. "He immediately showed some real promise,' Joe told the outlet, 'and now it's developed real fast." Now 5 years old, Alec has already won first prize in three international musical competitions, according to KNBC. Shortly before his performance at Carnegie Hall, Alec made his debut at L.A.'s Disney Concert Hall, where he met Gustavo Dudamel, director of the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra. 'I'm so excited and proud of Alec for all his hard work,' Joe told the Post. 'It's such an amazing time for him.' Molteni, the Gala Concert founder, told the Post that the team at Carnegie Hall 'immediately understood the uniqueness of the situation and accommodated it with great professionalism.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'Taking the stage at such a prestigious venue allows these young musicians to see themselves as capable of achieving the highest levels of their craft,' Molteni said. He added, 'It's an extraordinary motivational boost for a young artist, who devotes countless hours to studying music in their room and pursuing one of the most demanding careers in the world.' Read the original article on People
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
5-year-old piano prodigy preparing for Carnegie Hall show
Watch Just a year after starting piano lessons, a Los Angeles 5-year-old is preparing for his debut performing at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Italian maestros Bernardi and Benciolini to perform in city on Sunday
1 2 3 Pune: Italian virtuosos guitarist Lorenzo Bernardi and flautist Tommaso Benciolini are all set to bring their celebrated international collaboration to the city with Echoes of Italy: The Italian Essence. Known for their technical mastery and poetic interpretations, they have performed across prestigious venues, from New York's Carnegie Hall to the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The concert, organized by Istituto Italiano di Cultura (IIC), Mumbai, and Poona Music Society, brings together the Italian soul of music with reflections on landscape and migration. "This programme traces Italian identity through music shaped by landscape and migration — from Rossini's regional vitality to Castelnuovo-Tedesco's American exile and Piazzolla's Italian-rooted tango. Ravi Shankar's L'aube enchantée completes the arc, honouring India's voice in this cultural exchange," said Bernardi. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune For Benciolini, the Italian essence lies in "our lyrical instinct and structural creativity". "The idea is to renovate without losing emotional clarity. Even our contemporary piece by Andrea Battistoni, written especially for us and premiering in India, follows this principle," said Benciolini. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villa Prices in Dubai Might Be Lower Than You Think! Villa for sale in Dubai | Search Ads Learn More Undo Both musicians are known for chamber work. Bernardi, who collaborated with mandolinist Carlo Aonzo and violinist Saverio Gabrielli, said ensemble playing transforms the role of the guitar. "In solo, the guitar stands on its own, but in chamber music, it blends and supports. With the flute, it creates a warm, intimate sound rooted in the 19th-century salon tradition. Segovia's 20th-century revival inspired composers like Castelnuovo-Tedesco — an influence that lives on in our programme," said Bernardi. Benciolini believes that the legacy of performance venues isn't a burden. "Performing where legends once stood, like Carnegie Hall, with posters of Mahler and Dvořák, drives me to give it my all on stage. That legacy fuels deeper, more emotionally charged performances." Both musicians credit teaching with shaping their own understanding of music. Bernardi, who judged and taught at institutions across Europe, Asia, and the US, finds "promising energy" in countries where the guitar is still growing as a classical instrument. "In places like India, I'm struck by the curiosity and dedication of young guitarists. There's a real sensitivity to the expressive side of the repertoire, an instinctive grasp of legato phrasing and cantabile lines. It gives me confidence that the instrument's future is being shaped by voices from different corners of the world." For Benciolini, who began teaching at the age of 21, the exchange with students across cultures reinforced the complexity of musical learning. "Teaching constantly reminds me how much inspiration works both ways," he said. "Music is deeply psychophysical. It's about learning how to think while playing. And that only becomes clear through real dialogue with each student's way of responding," said Benciolini. The duo is thrilled to perform for the city's "discerning" audiences. "Performing in India is always special. The audience's warmth, curiosity, and attentiveness create a rare openness to the emotional storytelling in Italian music. It feels like a true cultural exchange," said Bernardi. The programme will be held on July 20 at Mazda Hall, Camp. Pune: Italian virtuosos guitarist Lorenzo Bernardi and flautist Tommaso Benciolini are all set to bring their celebrated international collaboration to the city with Echoes of Italy: The Italian Essence. Known for their technical mastery and poetic interpretations, they have performed across prestigious venues, from New York's Carnegie Hall to the Mozarteum in Salzburg. The concert, organized by Istituto Italiano di Cultura (IIC), Mumbai, and Poona Music Society, brings together the Italian soul of music with reflections on landscape and migration. "This programme traces Italian identity through music shaped by landscape and migration — from Rossini's regional vitality to Castelnuovo-Tedesco's American exile and Piazzolla's Italian-rooted tango. Ravi Shankar's L'aube enchantée completes the arc, honouring India's voice in this cultural exchange," said Bernardi. For Benciolini, the Italian essence lies in "our lyrical instinct and structural creativity". "The idea is to renovate without losing emotional clarity. Even our contemporary piece by Andrea Battistoni, written especially for us and premiering in India, follows this principle," said Benciolini. Both musicians are known for chamber work. Bernardi, who collaborated with mandolinist Carlo Aonzo and violinist Saverio Gabrielli, said ensemble playing transforms the role of the guitar. "In solo, the guitar stands on its own, but in chamber music, it blends and supports. With the flute, it creates a warm, intimate sound rooted in the 19th-century salon tradition. Segovia's 20th-century revival inspired composers like Castelnuovo-Tedesco — an influence that lives on in our programme," said Bernardi. Benciolini believes that the legacy of performance venues isn't a burden. "Performing where legends once stood, like Carnegie Hall, with posters of Mahler and Dvořák, drives me to give it my all on stage. That legacy fuels deeper, more emotionally charged performances." Both musicians credit teaching with shaping their own understanding of music. Bernardi, who judged and taught at institutions across Europe, Asia, and the US, finds "promising energy" in countries where the guitar is still growing as a classical instrument. "In places like India, I'm struck by the curiosity and dedication of young guitarists. There's a real sensitivity to the expressive side of the repertoire, an instinctive grasp of legato phrasing and cantabile lines. It gives me confidence that the instrument's future is being shaped by voices from different corners of the world." For Benciolini, who began teaching at the age of 21, the exchange with students across cultures reinforced the complexity of musical learning. "Teaching constantly reminds me how much inspiration works both ways," he said. "Music is deeply psychophysical. It's about learning how to think while playing. And that only becomes clear through real dialogue with each student's way of responding," said Benciolini. The duo is thrilled to perform for the city's "discerning" audiences. "Performing in India is always special. The audience's warmth, curiosity, and attentiveness create a rare openness to the emotional storytelling in Italian music. It feels like a true cultural exchange," said Bernardi. The programme will be held on July 20 at Mazda Hall, Camp.
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Oscar-winning The Way We Were lyricist Alan Bergman dies aged 99
Bergman died on Thursday at his home in Los Angeles, family spokesperson Ken Sunshine said in a statement. The statement said Bergman had, in recent months, suffered from respiratory issues 'but continued to write songs till the very end'. The Bergmans married in 1958 and remained together until her death, in 2022. With collaborators ranging from Marvin Hamlisch and Quincy Jones to Michel Legrand and Cy Coleman, they were among the most successful and prolific partnerships of their time, providing words and occasional music for hundreds of songs, including movie themes that became as famous as the films themselves. Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Tony Bennett and many other artists performed their material, and Barbra Streisand became a frequent collaborator and close friend. The Bergmans crafted lyrics known by millions, many of whom would not have recognised the writers had they walked right past them. Among their most famous works: the Streisand-Neil Diamond duet You Don't Bring Me Flowers, the well-named Sinatra favourite Nice 'n' Easy and the topical themes to the 1970s sitcoms Maude and Good Times. Their film compositions included Ray Charles' In The Heat Of The Night from the movie of the same name; Noel Harrison's The Windmills Of Your Mind, from The Thomas Crown Affair; and Stephen Bishop's It Might Be You, from Tootsie. The whole world seemed to sing and cry along to The Way We Were, an instant favourite recorded by Streisand for the 1973 romantic drama of the same name that co-starred Streisand and Robert Redford. Set to Hamlisch's tender, bittersweet melody, it was essentially a song about itself — a nostalgic ballad about nostalgia, an indelible ode to the uncertainty of the past, starting with one of history's most famous opening stanzas: Memories/light the corners of my mind/misty watercolour memories/of the way we were.' The Way We Were was the top-selling song of 1974 and brought the Bergmans one of their three Oscars, the others coming for Windmills Of Your Mind and the soundtrack to Yentl, the Streisand-directed movie from 1983. At times, the Academy Awards could be mistaken for a Bergman showcase. In 1983, three of the nominees for best song featured lyrics by the Bergmans, who received 16 nominations in all. The Bergmans also won two Grammys, four Emmys, were presented numerous lifetime achievement honours and received tributes from individual artists, including Streisand's 2011 album of Bergman songs, What Matters Most. Their very lives seemed to rhyme. They did not meet until they were adults, but were born in the same Brooklyn hospital, four years apart; raised in the same Brooklyn neighbourhood, attended the same children's concerts at Carnegie Hall and moved to California in the same year, 1950. They were introduced in Los Angeles while working for the same composer, but at different times of the day. Their actual courtship was in part a story of music. Fred Astaire was Marilyn's favourite singer at the time and Alan Bergman co-wrote a song, That Face, which Astaire agreed to record. Bergman rushed home to tell Marilyn the news, then proposed. Bergman is survived by a daughter, Julie Bergman, and granddaughter.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Oscar-winning The Way We Were lyricist Alan Bergman dies aged 99
Bergman died on Thursday at his home in Los Angeles, family spokesperson Ken Sunshine said in a statement. The statement said Bergman had, in recent months, suffered from respiratory issues 'but continued to write songs till the very end'. The Bergmans married in 1958 and remained together until her death, in 2022. With collaborators ranging from Marvin Hamlisch and Quincy Jones to Michel Legrand and Cy Coleman, they were among the most successful and prolific partnerships of their time, providing words and occasional music for hundreds of songs, including movie themes that became as famous as the films themselves. Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Tony Bennett and many other artists performed their material, and Barbra Streisand became a frequent collaborator and close friend. The Bergmans crafted lyrics known by millions, many of whom would not have recognised the writers had they walked right past them. Among their most famous works: the Streisand-Neil Diamond duet You Don't Bring Me Flowers, the well-named Sinatra favourite Nice 'n' Easy and the topical themes to the 1970s sitcoms Maude and Good Times. Their film compositions included Ray Charles' In The Heat Of The Night from the movie of the same name; Noel Harrison's The Windmills Of Your Mind, from The Thomas Crown Affair; and Stephen Bishop's It Might Be You, from Tootsie. The whole world seemed to sing and cry along to The Way We Were, an instant favourite recorded by Streisand for the 1973 romantic drama of the same name that co-starred Streisand and Robert Redford. Set to Hamlisch's tender, bittersweet melody, it was essentially a song about itself — a nostalgic ballad about nostalgia, an indelible ode to the uncertainty of the past, starting with one of history's most famous opening stanzas: Memories/light the corners of my mind/misty watercolour memories/of the way we were.' The Way We Were was the top-selling song of 1974 and brought the Bergmans one of their three Oscars, the others coming for Windmills Of Your Mind and the soundtrack to Yentl, the Streisand-directed movie from 1983. At times, the Academy Awards could be mistaken for a Bergman showcase. In 1983, three of the nominees for best song featured lyrics by the Bergmans, who received 16 nominations in all. The Bergmans also won two Grammys, four Emmys, were presented numerous lifetime achievement honours and received tributes from individual artists, including Streisand's 2011 album of Bergman songs, What Matters Most. Their very lives seemed to rhyme. They did not meet until they were adults, but were born in the same Brooklyn hospital, four years apart; raised in the same Brooklyn neighbourhood, attended the same children's concerts at Carnegie Hall and moved to California in the same year, 1950. They were introduced in Los Angeles while working for the same composer, but at different times of the day. Their actual courtship was in part a story of music. Fred Astaire was Marilyn's favourite singer at the time and Alan Bergman co-wrote a song, That Face, which Astaire agreed to record. Bergman rushed home to tell Marilyn the news, then proposed. Bergman is survived by a daughter, Julie Bergman, and granddaughter.
