Contact: Tom Moore
410-455-3370
tmoore@umbc.edu

The UMBC Department of Music's Contemporary Concert Series presents pianist Marc Ponthus in a performance of the Second and Third Piano Sonatas by Pierre Boulez on Thursday, April 21st at 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall.

The only pianist to have performed the complete solo piano work of Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen, Ponthus's solo performances with the BBC in London have been broadcast on numerous occasions. His recording of the complete solo piano works of Xenakis was recently released on Neuma records.

Born in Lyon, France, Mr. Ponthus studied with Claudio Arrau and has lectured and given master classes at New England Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, the Juilliard School and Columbia University. He is the director of the Institute and Festival for Contemporary Performance at the Mannes College of Music.

The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Ponthus's virtuosity is hair-raising, like beams of electricity shooting from a Frankenstein machine…a kind of priest channeling spirits in an arcane rite, hurling himself at the keyboard…until the whole instrument shook." The Washington Post's Joseph McLellan said, "Ponthus has a technique and a musical sensitivity that simply brush technical obstacles aside."

Admission
Admission is free.

Telephone
Public information: UMBC Artsline (24 hour recorded message): 410-455-ARTS
Media inquiries only: 410-455-3370

Web
UMBC Arts website: http://www.umbc.edu/arts
UMBC Arts News Releases: http://www.umbc.edu/newsevents/oci/index.phtml?r=Art

Directions

• From Baltimore and points north, proceed south on I-95 to exit 47B. Take Route 166 toward Catonsville and then follow signs to the Fine Arts Building.
• From I-695, take Exit 12C (Wilkens Avenue) and continue one-half mile to the entrance of UMBC at the roundabout intersection of Wilkens Avenue and Hilltop Road. Turn left and follow signs to the Fine Arts Building.
• From Washington and points south, proceed north on I-95 to Exit 47B. Take Route 166 toward Catonsville and then follow signs to the Fine Arts Building.
• Daytime metered visitor parking is available in Lot 10, near the Administration Building. Visitor parking regulations are enforced on all University calendar days. Hilltop Circle and all campus roadways require a parking permit unless otherwise marked.
• Online campus map: http://www.umbc.edu/aboutumbc/campusmap/

Images for Media
High resolution images for media is available online: http://www.umbc.edu/newsevents/arts/hi-res/ or by email or postal mail.