William Kapell Piano Competition and Festival

While not as prestigious as Moscow's Tchaikovsky Competition, the University of Maryland's International William Kapell Piano Competition and Festival has become one of the most important events of its kind.

The competition, which began last week and concludes Saturday, features 38 contestants from 15 nations competing for more than $50,000 in cash awards. The first-prize winner will receive $20,000 and 40 engagements, including a recital in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York, Nov. 19. Tickets for semifinal-round performances, July 19-22, are $10 general admission and $2.50 for students. These performances will be held at the Tawes Theater on the university campus. The finals will take place 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25, in the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center and will feature the three finalists performing concertos with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Maximiano Valdes. Tickets for the final round are $12 to $58 and may be obtained at the Kennedy Center box office, 202-467-4600.

The festival associated with the competition begins today and features master classes, lecture-recitals and colloquia during the day, and evening recitals by world-renowned pianists in Tawes Theater on the university's College Park campus. Tickets for day events are $12 general admission and $5 for students. Tickets for the 8:30 p.m. recitals, which begin this evening and continue through Saturday, are $12 to $22. The recitalists include Ruth Laredo (tonight), Andrea Lucchesini (Monday), Vladimir Viardo (Tuesday), Brigitte Engerer (Wednesday), Bruno Leonardo Gelber (Thursday) and Marc-Andre Hamelin (Friday). Tickets may be bought at the Tawes Theater box office (open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m., and one hour before each performance), or by calling 202-432-7328.

For further information, call 301-405-6538.

Pub Date: 7/19/98