By Gail McCarthy
Staff writer
Tue, May 13 2008 Janice Weber, a virtuoso pianist and accomplished author, will make her debut at the Cape Ann Symphony this weekend when it presents its "French Fantasy" concerts at Gloucester's Fuller School Auditorium. Weber and Yoichi Udagawa, the symphony conductor and music director, both serve on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory. The French Fantasy concert program includes Berlioz's "Roman Carnival" and Debussy's "La Mer." "La Mer means ocean, and what city would like that more than Gloucester," Udagawa said. Weber, who is also an international recording artist, will perform Saint Saens' "Piano Concerto No. 2." "She is an incredible pianist, and this Saint Saens' piece is full of virtuosity that requires amazing technique and Janice has just that," Udagawa said. "Plus, she's a fun person with a great sense of humor." Weber talked about the piece she will play. "There's a famous musical saying about that it is the concerto that starts like Bach and ends like Offenbach," she said. Offenbach, a French 19th century composer, is often associated with the can-can. "The piece starts off seriously and gets lighter and lighter," said Weber who graduated summa cum laude from the Eastman School of Music. She first entered school as a dual major in music and journalism. "I was always writing poetry and plays and books," Weber said. After she graduated from college, she settled in New York and continued with her writing as well as her music. Most of her novels involve music and have a worldwide following, according to her Web site bio. She published her first novel in 1983 titled "The Secret Life of Eva Hathaway." She went on to write another six books, as well as other projects, including screenplays, a television pilot and further collaborations. Her book "Frost the Fiddler" was named a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times. Weber co-authored "School of Fortune," a story about a young woman who needs to finish "any school" in order to inherit $1 billion. The book, which is now in its second printing, was co-authored with Amanda Brown, creator of "Legally Blonde." Weber is a contributor writer to the Musical Times in London, Clavier, Piano Today, and other music publications. She has appeared with the American Composers Orchestra, Boston Civic Symphony, Boston Pops, Chautauqua Symphony, New Hampshire Symphony, Sarajevo Philharmonic, Sarasota Pops and the Syracuse Symphony. As a solo artist, she has performed at the White House, Carnegie Hall, Weill Hall, National Gallery of Art, Boston Symphony Hall and the 92nd Street Y. She has toured Yugoslavia, Turkey and the Baltic states under the auspices of the U.S. Information Service. She also toured in China. Weber's recordings reflect an array of music from Rachmaninoff's complete transcriptions with the Lydian Quartet to Leo Ornstein's vast "Piano Quintet." She recorded Liszt's last "Hungarian Rhapsody." This work later won the International Liszt Prize. Her recording of Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time" is now available on Ongaku Records. "Her interest in the uncommon avenues of the piano literature led to her world premiere recording of Liszt's 1838 Transcendental Etudes," according to a press release. The Cape Ann Symphony, founded in Gloucester in 1952, is led by Udagawa, who also serves as the music director and conductor of the Quincy Symphony and Melrose Symphony orchestras. Born in Tokyo, Udagawa began playing the violin at the age of 4 and made his conducting debut 11 years later at the age of 15. He also sings and performs regularly with a gospel choir. Gail McCarthy can be reached at gmccarthy@glopucestertimes.com
Reader box: What: The Cape Ann Symphony's French Fantasy Concert featuring piano soloist Janice Weber When: Saturday, March 29, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 30, at 2 p.m. Where: Fuller Auditorium at Blackburn Circle, off Route 128, in Gloucester. The auditorium is handicapped accessible. Ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens and college students, and free for children under 18. For tickets and information, call 978-281-0543 or visit www.capeannsymphony.org.
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