Ursula Oppens
Encyclopedia
Ursula Oppens is an American classical pianist
.
in 1969. That same year, she took first prize at the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
. In 1971, Oppens co-founded the contemporary music ensemble Speculum Musicae
. She was one of the first pianists to test the boundaries of traditional concert programming, by performing both classics and contemporary pieces. One of the foremost champions of new music, several modern composers praise her for her invaluable encouragement and advice in composition, and her illumination of their music.
In 2008, Oppens took up her new post as Distinguished Professor of Music at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College
and the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. From 1994 through the end of the 2007/2008 academic year, she served as John Evans Distinguished Professor of Music at Northwestern University
.
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Biography
After earning her master's degree from the Juilliard School of Music, Oppens won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in 1968. This win led to her New York City debut at Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in 1969. That same year, she took first prize at the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition
The Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition is a music competition for young pianists that takes place in Bolzano, Italy.-History: The first Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition was organized by Cesare Nordio in 1949 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the death of pianist and...
. In 1971, Oppens co-founded the contemporary music ensemble Speculum Musicae
Speculum Musicae
Speculum Musicae is an American chamber ensemble dedicated to the performance of contemporary classical music. It was founded in New York City in 1971 and is particularly noted for its performances of the music of Elliott Carter...
. She was one of the first pianists to test the boundaries of traditional concert programming, by performing both classics and contemporary pieces. One of the foremost champions of new music, several modern composers praise her for her invaluable encouragement and advice in composition, and her illumination of their music.
In 2008, Oppens took up her new post as Distinguished Professor of Music at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College
Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College
The Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College is the music school of Brooklyn College of the City University of New York...
and the CUNY Graduate Center in New York City. From 1994 through the end of the 2007/2008 academic year, she served as John Evans Distinguished Professor of Music at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
Composers who have written music for Ursula Oppens
- Elliott CarterElliott CarterElliott Cook Carter, Jr. is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer born and living in New York City. He studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in the 1930s, and then returned to the United States. After a neoclassical phase, he went on to write atonal, rhythmically complex music...
- John HarbisonJohn HarbisonJohn Harris Harbison is an American composer, best known for his operas and large choral works.-Life:...
- György LigetiGyörgy LigetiGyörgy Sándor Ligeti was a composer of contemporary classical music. Born in a Hungarian Jewish family in Transylvania, Romania, he briefly lived in Hungary before becoming an Austrian citizen.-Early life:...
- Witold Lutosławski
- Conlon NancarrowConlon NancarrowConlon Nancarrow was a United States-born composer who lived and worked in Mexico for most of his life. He became a Mexican citizen in 1955.Nancarrow is best remembered for the pieces he wrote for the player piano...
- Frederic RzewskiFrederic RzewskiFrederic Anthony Rzewski is an American composer and virtuoso pianist.- Biography :Rzewski began playing piano at age 5. He attended Phillips Academy, Harvard and Princeton, where his teachers included Randall Thompson, Roger Sessions, Walter Piston and Milton Babbitt...
- Charles WuorinenCharles WuorinenCharles Peter Wuorinen is a prolific Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer born and living in New York City. His catalog of more than 250 compositions includes works for orchestra, opera, chamber music, as well as solo instrumental and vocal works...
- Tobias PickerTobias PickerTobias Picker is an American composer. Picker began composing at the age of eight and studied at the Manhattan School of Music, The Juilliard School and Princeton University, where his principal teachers were Charles Wuorinen, Elliott Carter and Milton Babbitt...
- Allen ShawnAllen ShawnAllen Shawn is an American composer, pianist, educator, and author who lives in Vermont.-His music:Among Shawn's available recordings are several of chamber music, a collection of piano music, and his Piano Concerto performed by Ursula Oppens with the Albany Symphony Orchestra under the direction...
External links
- Colbert Artists Management profile biography, photos, reviews
- Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music faculty page
- Art of the States: Ursula Oppens performance of Elliott CarterElliott CarterElliott Cook Carter, Jr. is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer born and living in New York City. He studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris in the 1930s, and then returned to the United States. After a neoclassical phase, he went on to write atonal, rhythmically complex music...
's Piano Sonata (1945-46/1982) - Hear Ursula Oppens in concert from WGBH Radio Boston
- Interview with Ursula Oppens by Bruce Duffie, April, 1990