March 5 7:00 pm
PLEASE NOTE: Though there is a possibility of inclement weather this evening, the Nelson Goerner concert will go on as scheduled. If you are unable to attend due to weather or road conditions, you may contact our Box Office to exchange your tickets for another performance in the Music Worcester 2025-2026 Season. Exchange requests for unused tickets will be honored through March 13, 2026. Call 508-754-3231 or email rae@musicworcester.org.
Nelson Goerner, noted for his versatility at the keyboard, has toured with many of the world’s major orchestras – Orchestre de Paris, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie. Audiences will be wowed by his interpretation of Franz Liszt, inspired by his presentation of Isaac Albéniz, and charmed by the dance-like nature found in piano music from Hungary and Spain.
Frédéric Chopin – Fantasie in F minor, Op.49
Robert Schumann – Fantasie in C major, Op.17
Franz Liszt – Ballade No. 2
Franz Liszt – Valse oubliée No.2
Isaac Albéniz – Iberia, Book IV
Fantasie in F minor, Op.49 – Frédéric Chopin
Fantasie in C major, Op.17 – Robert Schumann
Ballade No. 2 – Franz Liszt
Valse oubliée No.2 – Franz Liszt
Iberia, Book IV – Isaac Albéniz
These two works by Liszt are opposing sides of a coin. While Ballade no. 2 is dramatic and passionate, showing off the player’s virtuosity (which Liszt wrote to show off his own skill), Valse oubliée No.2 is more delicate, displaying the player’s personality and attention to musical choices.
The program continues with Iberia, Book IV, Albéniz’s collection of three piano pieces. These works drop hints to dance, are impressionistic, and overall feature the character of both instrument and performer. Both Claude Debussy and Oliver Messiaen praised this work (Albéniz’s best-known work, in fact) as a “wonder for the piano”.
Please note: program, venue, time, and artist are subject to change.
Artists
Nelson Goerner
Pianist
Nelson Goerner is one of the world’s greatest classical pianists. He is praised for his performances of the highest art and poetry, while at the same time possessing exhilarating and masterful conviction. As a recitalist, Goerner regularly performs on some of the world’s most respected stages and in the 2024/25 season he performed at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and Philharmonie de Paris; Wigmore Hall, London; Festival International de Piano de La Roque d’Anthéron; Piano à Lyon; Klarafestival, Brussels; Fundación Scherzo’s Piano Series in Madrid; Kumho Art Hall, Seoul; and Hamarikyu Asahi Hall, Tokyo, including regular visits to Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in previous seasons.
Nelson Goerner has performed with many of the major orchestras including the Orchestre de Paris, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, Philharmonia, Spanish National Orchestra, Sinfonia Varsovia, Mariinsky Orchestra, and Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo with leading conductors such as Alain Altinoglu, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Frans Bruggen, Sir Mark Elder, Philippe Herreweghe, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Jonathan Nott, Fabio Luisi, Vasily Petrenko, and Esa Pekka Salonen. He has appeared at many prestigious festivals including the Salzburg Festival, La Roque d’Anthéron, Piano aux Jacobins in Toulouse, La Grange de Meslay, Tsinandali, Edinburgh International Festival, Festival de Verbier, Schleswig Holstein and the BBC Proms. In the 21/22 season, Goerner was Artist in Residence at Flagey, Brussels and opened the Flagey Piano Days festival in 2022 with a performance of the Martucci Piano Concerto No.2 with the Brussels Philharmonic. In the 2024/25 season, Goerner performs with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and on tour in Spain with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.
A keen chamber musician, Goerner regularly collaborates with Martha Argerich, Renaud Capucon, Sol Gabetta, Gary Hoffman, Alexei Ogrintchouk, and Tedi Papavrami. In 24/25, Goerner performs throughout Europe in a new trio with Ning Feng and Edgar Moreau. Goerner has a strong relationship with the Mozarteum Argentino in Buenos Aires and enjoys a long association with the Chopin Institute in Warsaw, with whom he released several albums of unusual repertoire on the Institute’s own record label with several Diapason d’Or awards. Most recently, he received this prestigious award for his latest release in 2019 which features works by Godowski and Paderewski, including the latter’s monumental Variations and Fugue op.23.
Goerner records predominantly for Alpha Classics and his discography for them includes works by Liszt, Albéniz, Chopin, Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Schumann, Fauré and Franck. Accolades include: France Musique’s choice for his most recent album of Liszt in 2024; Gramophone Editor’s choice for his Brahms, Diapason d’Or of the Year for his recording of Debussy; BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Month for his album of works by Schumann; Choc de Classica and Diapason d’Or for his Chopin Preludes album; plus resounding critical acclaim for his recording of Beethoven’s Hammerklavier Sonata Op 106. He has been awarded the “Gloria Artis” Award, the foremost cultural distinction in Poland, and has also received the Konex Platinum Prize by the Konex Foundation in Buenos Aires in 2019.
Goerner was born in San Pedro, Argentina in 1969. After studying with Jorge Garrubba, Juan Carlos Arabian and Carmen Scalcione, he was awarded First Prize in the Franz Liszt Competition in Buenos Aires in 1986. This led to a scholarship to work with Maria Tipo at the Geneva Conservatoire, and in 1990 Nelson Goerner won the First Prize at the Geneva Competition. Nelson Goerner lives in Switzerland with his wife and son. He is a proud and active supporter of the humanitarian organization, Ammala.
Curtis Performance Hall
Assumption University
Tsotsis Family Academic Center
500 Salisbury St. Worcester, MA 01609
Curtis Performance Hall in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center at Assumption University.
SEATING
This venue has stadium-style seating, with accessible seats marked on the seating chart. Row F is the only row that does not require access via stair. Please consider leaving seats in this row available for those who have mobility-related needs. Read more about accessibility here.
PARKING
Parking is in Lot N (Chapel Lot). Accessible parking is available at the rear of the building on the second floor (Building 19) and in Lot N. Read more here.
Behind the Scenes with Adrien Finlay, Executive Director
My background includes several years working at summer music festivals here in New England, including the Portland Chamber Music Festival and the former Newport Music Festival (now Newport Classical). I learned an immense amount about creating the best possible conditions for musicians during those years and also gained exposure to many internationally renowned musicians for the first time, particularly pianists. When I started here at Music Worcester I had a list of musicians, especially those I heard for the first time in Newport, that I wanted to approach as soon as possible.
Several of these artists we have been able to welcome. Nelson Goerner, however, due to a combination of his availability to come to the US and his extraordinarily busy career in Europe, has only become possible for Music Worcester now. On March 5 at 7:30pm he will sit at the Steinway D Concert Grand in Curtis Performance Hall at Assumption University to deliver a knuckle-buster program including Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, and Albéniz.
I have been waiting over a decade for this recital to happen, and I hope you will consider joining me to experience Nelson’s artistry live.
Originally from Argentina, Nelson and his family have called Switzerland home for many years. A favorite pianist of Martha Argerich, he regularly appears at the storied music festivals and concert halls across Europe (Verbier, Wigmore Hall, Salzburg, Philharmonice de Paris) and with leading conductors (Esa-Pekka Salonen, Paavo Jarvi, Jonathan Nott, Philippe Herreweghe). His reputation greatly precedes him – a pianist who jumps wholeheartedly and without fear into some of the most technically demanding works for piano.
I recall vividly the first time I heard him – utter silence reigned as he engaged with one of Schubert’s last piano sonatas, demonstrating his ability to give structure and a narrative to a mammoth work lasting almost an hour. His capacity to go beyond the technical demands of the work and captivate the audience with his total musicianship was clear from the very first few measures. He defines the type of artist I seek to bring to Music Worcester – one who can fully inspire subscribers of many years, but also one who can encourage first-time attendees to consider returning soon to hear other amazing talent on our series.
Music Worcester does not present traditional recitals all that often, though I welcome the opportunities when they present themselves. Recital performances by Joshua Bell, Jeremy Denk, Garrick Ohlsson, Simone Dinnerstein, Yo-Yo Ma, and Vijay Gupta will always remain some of my most treasured memories here in Worcester. I would unequivocally state that Nelson’s upcoming recital falls into the not-to-be-missed category.
A student of the legendary pianist Maria Tipo, Nelson’s career also began with several high profile competition wins, including the Franz Liszt Competition in Buenos Aires in 1986 and the Geneva Competition in 1990. I cannot wait to hear him in a program that includes works both well-known like the Chopin Fantasie in F minor and less-known gems, like the Liszt Ballade No. 2.