Performers

JANICE CARISSA, piano
Indonesian-born pianist Janice Carissa, a Gilmore Young Artist and winner of Salon de Virtuosi, brings a voice of remarkable clarity and imagination to the stage. Praised for playing that “conveys a vivid story rather than a mere showpiece,” she has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, and the Kennedy Center, and has performed with orchestras across the United States and internationally.

For this lunchtime recital, she centers the program around Beethoven's Pathétique Sonata - one of the most enduring works in the piano repertoire. Written at a time when Beethoven was redefining what a piano sonata could be, the piece moves from its grave, searching opening into music of striking contrast and emotional range, combining drama, lyricism, and a sense of restless forward motion. Framing this landmark work are two masterpieces that trace the remarkable evolution of the piano repertoire: J.S. Bach's elegant and dance-inspired French Suite No. 5 and Ravel's dazzling La valse, a virtuosic reimagining of the Viennese waltz that brings the recital to a thrilling close.

In a program shaped by an artist whose own path has taken her from Indonesia to the world's major stages, Janice reveals the breadth of her musical imagination—bringing together music from three centuries with the same clarity, curiosity, and expressive depth that have become hallmarks of her playing.

Program

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13, “Pathétique”

MAURICE RAVEL La valse, M. 72 ‍

Tickets

Age 35+: $38 | 22-34: $20 | 21 & Under: Pay What You Wish

This concert is presented in loving memory of Pete Bixler.

Honorary Concert Sponsor: Ellen Enochs