Pianist Dazzles In Ragtime Show

A house full of music lovers were treated to a special presentation Sunday afternoon as pianist Paul Bisaccia performed at the Cheshire Public Library in a concert called "The Great American Piano Revisited."

The concert included ragtime numbers and the classical pieces which inspired them. Primarily a concert pianist, Bisaccia said the program was a fun departure from the classical tunes such as Bach and Liszt which he plays more regularly.  He said he chose music “that’s fun to play and people like to hear.” 

Bisaccia performed a premiere of a composition by George Gershwin, called the "Ragging the Traumerei", which Bisaccia said was  inspired by a Schumann piece and composed when Gershwin  was just 14 years old.

Bisaccia was given the Gershwin work by Michael Feinstein who was Ira Gershwin’s secretary. Bisaccia said the work was recently discovered.  Feinstien also gave him one of the last compositions Gershwin wrote, "For Lily Pons."

Bisaccia is the first pianist to have recorded all of Gershwin’s solo piano music and names Gershwin (along with Franz Liszt) as one of his favorite composers. “When he went to London, Gershwin was called the American Liszt,” says Bisaccia.  

Bisaccia also performed his arrangement of Sousa’s "Semper Fidelis March." “You don’t hear Sousa marches on piano,” said Bisaccia.  He added that Gershwin and Eubie Blake could make piano pieces sound like they were being performed by a small orchestra.

Bisaccia received a standing ovation with his final bow. Sandy Parsons of Meriden said she had been to other Bisaccia concerts. “I think he’s super.” Margie Orlinsky brought her two daughters, Sarah, 6 and Eliana, 5, to listen and perhaps be inspired. “They’ve been taking piano lessons for about a year now,” said Orlinsky. “Maybe they’ll come here to play in about 15 years.”

 The concert was made possible by Friends of the Cheshire Public Library, which sponsors the  concerts which are held one Sunday a month from September to June.

“Where do you get this quality performance for free on a Sunday afternoon?” said library Assistant Director Maria Brandriff.  “People keep telling me, ‘You keep getting better.’ I always like to hear that.”

Upcoming concerts include performances by folk balladeer Phil Rosenthal; classical and jazz guitar by Neal Fitzpatrick; a Ukrainian vocal ensemble called Yevshan and  the Prester John Duo.  “

I get far more requests to perform here than we can accommodate,” said Brandriff.

Bisaccia’s recordings are available at amazon.com. Those interested in learning more about Friends Of The Cheshire Public Library should  call 203-272-2245 or visit www.cheshirelibrary.org.