Events October 2024

Photo: Robert Gregson
LocalConcert

Glass Etudes—Piano in the Fish Church

October 20, 2024

On the occasion of The Glass House’s 75th Anniversary, join three renowned pianists—Timo Andres, Aaron Diehl, and Jenny Lin—for an hour-long concert of a selection of Philip Glass’ Etudes in Stamford’s modernist First Presbyterian Church designed by Wallace K. Harrison. The church is a grantee of the National Fund for Sacred Places and a National Historic Landmark.

One of the most influential artists of our time, Philip Glass has transformed how we listen to music. His most personal work is a series of 20 piano etudes. Majestic and intimate at the same time, these compositions for solo piano have been performed and recorded by dozens of artists and streamed over 100 million times. Longtime interpreters of The Glass Etudes, this program’s three featured pianists each bring a unique approach to their instrument and to Glass’s work.

First Presbyterian has been an active house of worship since its completion in 1958 and was recently designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service for its architectural significance. Known as the Fish Church for its angular mid-century modern exterior profile, Harrison aimed to evoke Ste. Chapelle, Paris, in its soaring structure bathed in intense colored light, filtered here through more than 20,000 hand-faceted chunks of glass set in concrete panels. Largely abstract in composition, the glass continues the medieval story-telling tradition of stained glass by suggesting biblical themes with representational fragments.

This Glass House Presents event is presented in partnership with the Highland Green Foundation.

 

Sunday October 20, 4:00 pm
Stamford, CT
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