Name: TALON SMITH: Sonata in C minor, Op. 2 - World Premiere Tour
Start: 2025-01-31T19:30:00-08:00
End: 2025-01-31T21:30:00-08:00
Location: Colburn School

Join us for the highly anticipated premiere of Talon Smith's Sonata Op. 2, along with treasured masterpieces by Chopin and Mussorgsky!
About this Event

TALON SMITH: Sonata in C minor, Op. 2 - World Premiere Tour

Award-winning, 22-year-old pianist and composer Talon Smith will give a premiere performance of his newly published masterpiece, “Sonata in C minor, Op. 2” for solo piano, showcasing his unique voice, mastery of the piano, and ability to evoke emotion through music.

Talon will also perform two of Chopin’s greatest masterworks—Polonaise-Fantaisie and Ballade in F minor. He will then take us on a vivid musical journey through Mussorgsky’s epic magnum opus, Pictures at an Exhibition. Talon’s interpretations of each work are an experience not to be missed.

CONCERT PROGRAM:

Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 61
Frédéric Chopin: Ballade in F minor, Op. 52
Talon Smith: Sonata in C minor, Op. 2 (Los Angeles Premiere)
Modest Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Talon Smith’s Sonata in C minor, Op. 2 is composed using a traditional thematic structure with three movements (sonata-allegro in I, ternary in II, rondo in III). Movement I is a mercurial maelstrom that introduces several “motto themes” resurfacing throughout the Sonata. The tender and vulnerable Movement II holds some of the most deeply touching and beautiful melodies in the classical music canon. Movement III returns to the mood of Movement I, but it is grittier and more calculated. The conclusion of the piece masterfully wraps up what came before while taking on a life of its own.

Talon also experimented with the concept of a “motto theme,” a musical phrase that appears throughout various sections of a longer composition. While listening to Talon Smith’s performance of his Sonata, see if you can identify the motto theme and its occurrences throughout.

Join us for this exclusive event offering a rare opportunity to be among the first to hear Talon Smith’s Sonata in C minor, Op. 2, performed live by the composer himself. Get your tickets now.

The first prints of Talon Smith’s Sonata in C minor, Op. 2 will be available for purchase at the concert. Time permitting, Talon will sign purchased copies after the concert.
Keep an eye out for Talon's Debut album featuring his 24 Preludes, Op. 1 and Sonata in C minor, Op. 2 that will be released worldwide on all streaming platforms in 2025.
ABOUT TALON SMITH:

Exhibiting an innate, passionate musicality, 22-year-old concert pianist and composer Talon Smith inspires audiences with his emotionally moving, intensely poetic, vividly colored, and technically stunning virtuosic performances. Talon Smith launched onto the international music stage at the age of 14 when he won the gold medal at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition. Since then, his career has soared with numerous achievements, including over 40 top prizes for piano performance and composition. Talon has captivated audiences across America, Europe, and Asia, earning him widespread admiration, international acclaim, and multiple audience choice awards.

Talon’s inspiring concerts engage his listeners in an unforgettable experience. He shares his feelings and vast musical gifts of authentic depth and rare sensitivity with emotionally touching performances that have ignited both tears and laughter with his extremely enthusiastic audiences. He commands the piano with superb tone, remarkable timing, and poetic phrasing layered with amazing contrasts of stunning colors. According to classical pianist Eduardus Halim, “This young pianist is extraordinary in many ways—Talon is a passionate musical force with a special and huge talent. He has a distinct voice, a remarkable sense of musical structure, and intense poetry.”

Jed Distler of Gramophone highly praised Talon Smith's performances at the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall. He noted that "Talon Smith approaches Chopin from a composer’s vantage point, not to mention that of a master pianist with an old soul. Smith’s careful scaling of dynamics, purposefully shaped bass lines, and perceptive textures lifted the music out of the salon and into the opera house, as if there were a great orchestra in tow. Furthermore, he has that rare ability to generate tension at the softest dynamic levels.” Distler continued, “Talon Smith’s two utterly independent hands and acuity in rhythmic pointing stresses line over mass, evoking memories of Josef Hofmann’s legendary 1937 Golden Jubilee performance."

Truman Wang of Classical Voice acclaimed Talon Smith's world premiere performance of his 24 Preludes, Op. 1 in Los Angeles, CA. Wang remarked, “The young virtuoso placed his technical mastery at the service of poetry and the singing line. Vladimir Horowitz famously said, ‘There is no shortage of pianists, only a shortage of composers.’ With the new 24 Preludes by Talon Smith (Op. 1) – an astonishing collection of pieces with varying styles and emotions – one finds renewed hope for the future of new music, music that speaks to the hearts of the common men and women, unencumbered by the demands of academia.”

As a composer, Talon possesses an extraordinary ability to create musical masterpieces with rich harmonies, lush melodies, and intricate details. Talon’s ability to translate his inner musical visions into compositions that are both fresh and timeless is a testament to his immense musical genius. Talon’s music stands as a beacon of creativity, inspiring both listeners and fellow artists alike. Through his extraordinary gift, Talon continues to contribute to the living tapestry of classical music.

Polish Radio praised Talon Smith as both a pianist and composer, remarking that Talon Smith is “an immensely musical pianist with great imagination. You hear his gift as a composer in his analytical approach to musical matter.”