Daniel Pesca performs with Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh

Daniel Pesca appeared as piano soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh and conductor Kevin Fitzgerald in a performance of Olivier Messiaen's Des Canyons aux Etoiles on Saturday, September 10th at Chatham University. This was the Pittsburgh premiere of the work, composed in 1974. The piano soloist takes the lead through much of the 90-minute piece, which includes a pair of movements scored for piano alone. "The piano writing is intensely virtuosic, with handfuls of chords all over the keyboard," comments Pesca. "Messiaen was inspired by birdsong, and much of the piano writing imitates its rapid flourishes and pirouettes." The performance also featured percussion soloists Hannah Weaver and Matthew Coley, and horn soloist Mark Houghton. 

Congrats to Daniel Pesca!