For the old masters Mozart and Beethoven, Vienna was the city for music. Its roots run deep in the fabric of European culture, and even Chopin and Ravel paid their musical dues to this great city. Not only do coffee and pastry make Vienna important; we must remember that it survived sieges from the east by the Ottoman empire and also from the west with Napoleon’s conquering army. These events left their musical mark with Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca and Beethoven’s Les Adieux sonata. Later it was the delightful Waltz which invaded Vienna, and Friedman and Godowsky both captured the elegant nostalgia of a city “Where yesterday looks backwards with a Smile through Tears.” Our program concludes with the fiery Gypsy rhythms of Brahms who made this city his home for the last three decades of his life.
The Friends of the White Plains Public Library present the third annual memorial concert in honor of Robert Mills, past President of the Friends, accomplished pianist, church organist, songster and beloved longtime Library volunteer.
