Mascolo-David delivers lecture, concert

The audience for CMU faculty pianist Alexandra Mascolo-David’s lecture
and recital got an educational as well as musical experience Tuesday
night.

In addition to a concert, Mascolo-David discussed the piano music of
19th century classical music composer Johannes Brahms. Mascolo-David
explained the significance of Brahms’ work.

“He was a very influential composer in the 19th century,”
Mascolo-David said. “He was literally one of the major composers of his
time.”

The performance took place in the Music Building’s Staples Family
Recital Hall.

Mascolo-David made her New York recital debut at the famed Carneige
Hall in May 2004 and was acclaimed by the New York Concert Review as
“intuitively on the money: She got right to the heart of this
masterpiece.”

She also received the 2001 Provost’s Award for Outstanding Research
and Creative Activity from CMU.

Theatre Professor James Eikrem also spoke during the lecture,
reading letters written by Brahms and writings about the composer.
Eikrem also recited the Scottish ballad “Edward,” believed to have
inspired Brahms’ Four Ballades Opus 10.

Mascolo-David’s performance of the Ballades was extremely
well-received by the audience. She earned enthusiastic applause at the
end of the show.

“I thought it was very good,” Ortonville freshman Katrina Kerpan
said. “I learned a few things I didn’t know about Brahms from the
lecture part.”

New Jersey junior Joseph Kay had previously seen Mascolo-David
recitals and was not surprised by the results.

“It’s definitely what I’ve come to come to expect from Dr. David,”
he said. “She’s just an amazing pianist.”

The performance began with a lecture on Brahms. Mascolo-David
discussed Brahms’ life, from his birth in 1833 in Hamburg to his early
piano studies to his friendship with a woman named Clara Schumann after
her husband’s death.

Mascolo-David said, Clara Schumann was an inspiring influence in
Brahms’ life. She was his closest friend, though it is unknown if they
ever became romantically involved, and also an artistic influence.

“I’m doing the lecture principally to get people to appreciate the
music better, to put the music into the context of his life,”
Mascolo-David said before the show.

Before intermission, Mascolo-David provided background on each of
the four Ballades. She described the notes and moods of each Ballade,
previewing the audience for what it would hear.