2 women pianists to take stage in separate shows

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Two women, classical pianists — one from France, the other from Cuba — will be featured in separate concerts sponsored by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and by Dayton’s long-running, international piano series, Soirees Musicales.

On today, Jan. 7, and Saturday, Jan. 9, piano prodigy Lise de la Salle returns to Dayton to perform Franz Liszt’s “Piano Concerto No. 1” with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra at the Schuster Center. De la Salle previously performed with the orchestra two years ago at age 19.

“She was a smash, and we re-booked her immediately,” said DPO spokesman David Bukvic. “She was born to play the keyboard. She’s one of the fastest-rising stars on the international scene.”

De la Salle was born in 1988 in Cherbourg, France. Her career began at age 9, when she played at a concert broadcast by Radio France. Her Special Prize at the 2004 Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York led to concert appearances in key American cities.

Sandwiched between the two “Lise Meets Liszt” programs is DPO’s Classical Connections Series, “Richard Wagner: Evolution of a Revolutionary” taking place Friday at the Schuster Center. Tickets are $5 to $39.

Cuban-born pianist Juana Zayas returns to Dayton for Soirees Musicales at 8 p.m. Saturday at Shiloh Church 5300 Philadelphia Drive, Harrison Twp. Zayas attended the Peyrellade Conservatory of Music in Havana. She left Cuba to attend conservatory in France and earned a First Prize in chamber music.

“She’s been here many times,” said Soirees founder, Don Hageman. “I’ve known her for twenty-five years. She is one of the most musical pianists out there. Her (Frederic) Chopin Etudes have been compared to the very best but like all female classical pianists, she doesn’t get her due from the music intelligentsia.”