Brandon Patrick George and David Fung: Elegance and Jubilance

Overview

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Elegant flutist Brandon Patrick George and pianist David Fung present an evening amplifying neglected compositions of the past, and highlighting new ones.

The program features two French jewels by Lili Boulanger, the first woman to win the Prix de Rome for composition in 1913 before her life was tragically cut short in 1918 due to tuberculosis at the age of 24. According to Brandon, the pieces showcase her “vibrant, joyous writing style, as well her elegant, romantic voice, incorporating quintessential harmonies heard from French composers of the time, such as Claude Debussy and Gabriel Fauré.”

Brandon will also premiere a new work for flute and piano by native New Yorker Joseph Prestamo, specially commissioned by the WQXR Artist Propulsion Lab.

The program culminates with the bold and joyful harmonies of Prokofiev’s neo-classic work, which is featured on Brandon’s debut album.

WQXR’s Annie Bergen hosts the evening.

Brandon Patrick George, flute
David Fung, piano

Lili Boulanger
D’un matin de printemps

Joseph Prestamo
With Wings
World premiere; Commissioned by WQXR

Lili Boulanger
Nocturne

Sergei Prokofiev
Sonata, Op. 94

Individual creators and performers have been hit hard by the pandemic shutdown, which has made it especially difficult for them to earn an income. WQXR has been working on ways to help in any way possible, so as part of its newly-announced STAR initiative, WQXR is pleased to announce the first cohort of its Artist Propulsion Lab. Six early and mid-career artists, hand-selected by the WQXR team, will receive an honorarium of $15,000, as well as a budget of up to $5,000 to engage collaborators and commission works. They will have the opportunity to take advantage of WQXR’s various outlets to reach audiences via Greene Space performances, on-air curation opportunities, and much, much more.

Brandon Patrick George is a leading flute soloist and chamber musician, with an adventurous repertoire extending from the baroque to today. He is the flutist of the Grammy®-nominated Imani Winds and has made appearances as a concerto soloist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, and the American Composers Orchestra, among others. He has been hailed by The New York Times as “the elegant Brandon Patrick George,” as a “virtuoso” by The Washington Post, and called a “knockout musician with a gorgeous sound” by The Philadelphia Inquirer. His debut album, featuring works by Kalevi Aho, J.S. Bach, Pierre Boulez, and Sergei Prokofiev, was released by Haenssler Classics in September 2020; The New York Times has described it as “a program that showcases the flute in all its wit, warmth and brilliance.” Read more…

Praised for his “ravishing and simply gorgeous” performances in The Washington Post, pianist David Fung is widely recognized for interpretations that are elegant and refined, yet intensely poetic and uncommonly expressive. Declared a Rising Star in BBC Music Magazine, Mr. Fung regularly appears with the world’s premier ensembles including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Orchestra of Belgium, the San Diego Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony, as well as the major orchestras in his native country of Australia, including the Melbourne Symphony, the Queensland Symphony, and the Sydney Symphony. An incisive interpreter of Mozart and Bach, Mr. Fung has collaborated with the Israel, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Orpheus, and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestras, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. Read more.