Ticket Information:
General Admission $20

Description:
Program:
Chopin
Polonaise in C-sharp minor, Op. 26 No. 1
Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. Post

Schumann
Schumann Arabesque (Op 18)

Liszt
Les Funerailles

Abas
Eastern Fantasy

Chopin
Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 (Heroic)
3 Mazurkas

Rachmaninoff
Prelude G minor Op.23

The great-great grandson of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, Israeli-born Elisha Abas is a rare combination of talent, intellect, and pedigree. The solo pianist was a rare prodigy at the age of six when he started his performance career, performing with the world’s most prestigious orchestras at the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, and others. By the time he was a teenager, he was sharing the stage with the great masters Zubin Mehta, Isaac Stern, and Leonard Bernstein. He won first place in the Claremont Piano Competition and first place in music for eight consecutive years by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. Artur Rubenstein mentored Abas during his youth (Abas appeared in the film “Artur Rubenstein and Friends”), and Abas studied privately with Pnina Salzmann, Israel’s First Lady of Piano. In a major press interview, Salzmann said, “his authentic spirit and electrifying rhythm makes you cry.”

After a short hiatus playing professional soccer for Israel’s premier soccer league, Abas is now composing original works for piano and performing at major halls worldwide. The NY Times commented on his 2007 Carnegie Hall concert by stating “Abas was definitely communicating something… the excitement in the room was palpable”. In Italy, La Roma National Italian Newspaper commented after his debut in Napoli at the Palazzo Delle Arte "he is the most refined and interesting pianists of our generation ". In 2009, Abas premiered his original compositions in Russia’s Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg and the UN Grand Assembly Hall in New York.

Elisha Abas debuted at Baruch Performing Arts Center’s Engelman Recital Hall in February 2008 and is now its resident solo pianist. The NY Times described the Engelman Recital Hall as "ideally intimate... perfect hall for chamber music." Don’t miss this incredible concert with interpretations of Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, as well as compositions by his great-great grandfather Scriabin, and his own original work.

The Young Professionals Society for the Arts is a non-profit organization founded by Michael Ascher and Lauren Woolley. The society is dedicated to bringing diverse young people together in a relaxed, but sophisticated environment to experience live performances from world class artists in classical, jazz, hip hop and world music. Following the performance, cocktails will be provided by Chopin Vodka. Proceeds will benefit The National Liberty Museum (www.libertymuseum.org). The museum has a long history of celebrating democracy and diversity, promoting tolerance and defusing violence.