Kudos to the Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division and the Steinway Piano Gallery of Hollywood for presenting Jeffrey Siegel’s “Gershwin and Friends” concert last Friday night.
Mr. Siegel, an internationally renowned piano soloist, dazzled the audience in Pepperdine’s Raitt Recital Hall with music by George Gershwin, Edward MacDowell, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Scott Joplin and Samuel Barber.
Mr. Siegel made good use of the Raitt’s new Steinway grand piano. He preceded each piece with comments on the music and composer and with amusing anecdotes. He is not only a superb performer but also a learned musicologist.
The evening concluded with a rousing rendition of Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” and a spellbinding “Rhapsody in Blue.” In performing the latter, Mr. Siegel used Gershwin’s own transcription for solo piano unaccompanied by orchestra. It is surprising and unfortunate that this free concert in an auditorium as small as the Raitt did not have a capacity audience.
I suggest that Pepperdine provide more publicity next time Mr. Siegel graces Malibu with his talent.
Hank Pollard