Telluride Choral Society: Vivace Piano Duo

Things get really righteous when Linda Mack Berven and C. Scott Hagler come to town at the invitation of the Telluride Choral Society to do what they do best: playing the ivories. Linda, artistic director and conductor of Durango Choral Society and Scott, who is music director for St, Mark’s Episcopal Church, perform together as the Vivace Piano Duo.

This very special event, a house concert, features the music of Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Schubert, Stravinsky, Brahams, Dvorak and Gershwin.

Linda has played for many years at faculty and student recitals at Fort Lewis College, at the Music in the Mountains Festival, with the San Juan Symphony and on various recital programs at St. Mark’s Church. Scott has performed at the Third Avenue Arts recital series, in the annual Bach Festival, and for the Durango Arts Center. A published arranger and composer, he has written for choirs of children and adults, instrumental ensembles, and solo piano.When those two accomplished musicians came together on a piano, they play four hands on one piano – as opposed to performing on two pianos. Proximity makes for very interesting logistical and technical challenges: whose hands and arms go where, who turns pages, who pedals, and who sits on which side of the other. It turns out that through the ages many wonderful composers have written pieces specifically for multiple (upper) appendages and digits working together. Linda and Scott particularly enjoy those original arrangements.

The Vivace Piano Duo recently played recitals in Durango, Santa Fe, and Farmington and are looking forward to their Telluride recital.

The evening, which includes wine and hors d’oeuvres, is hosted by Sharon and Nelson Sharp in their Mountain Village home. (To get there, turn into Mountain Village, at second road, make right turn onto Touchdown Drive,”S” curve to top, #139. Park on slopeside and walk up tan driveway.)

Seating is limited, so reserve a seat by calling Warner Paige, 970-369-1351 soon.

The concert is free, but contributions in support of the Telluride Choral Society would be greatly appreciated.