"Arnie Popkin has a wonderful musical fluidity. A pianist of true expressive gifts."
David Del Tredici, Pulitzer-Prize winning pianist and composer
"Highly musical as well as expressive performances reflecting deep love and long involvement with music and the piano"
Mordecai Shehori, internationally acclaimed concert pianist
"Virginia ophthalmologist Arnold Popkin combined fleet fingers and rare interpretive intelligence in Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G-sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12, and Chopin's Ballade No. 3 in A-Flat."
Fort Worth Star-Telegram review of performance in Van Cliburn Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, June, 1999
"Of all the romantic composers, I feel that Arnold Popkin has a special affinity for Chopin - poetic and elegant, his playing of Chopin is always clear, sensitive, and lovely."
Content Sablinsky, Piano Faculty, University of Virginia (ret.)
"You gave a magnificent performance. Your music penetrated my very soul."
Betty R. Thomas, Richmond, Virginia
PROGRAM
Ernesto Lecuona (1895-1963)
(1) Malaguena (from Andalucia Suite)
Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)
(2) Evocation
(3) El Puerto
(From Iberia, Volume I)
(4) Tango in D
(arranged by Leopold Godowsky)
Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
(5) Andaluza (from Four Spanish Pieces)
(6) Ritual Fire Dance
Enrique Granados (1867-1916)
(7) Spanish Dance No. 2 in C Minor (Oriental)
(8) Spanish Dance No. 5 in E Minor (Andaluza)
Federico Mompou (1893-1987)
Charmes
(9) To put suffering to sleep
(10) To penetrate the soul
(11) To inspire love
(12) For healing
(13) To evoke past images
(14) To evoke joy
Joaquin Turina (1882-1949)
From Danzas gitanas, Op. 55
(15) Zambra
(16) Danza de la Seduccion
(17) Sacro-monte
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
(18) Soiree dans Grenade (from Estampes)
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
(19) Choros No. 5 (Alma Brasileira)
Ernesto Nazareth (1863-1934)
(20) Odeon: Tango Brasileiro
Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)
Creole Dance Suite, Op. 15
(21) Adagietto pianissimo
(22) Allegro rustico
(23) Allegretto cantabile
(24) Calmo e poetico
(25) Scherzando -Coda: Presto ed energico
Although I have never been to either Spain or Latin America, I have a great love for this music. I almost always include at least one Spanish piece on my concert programs, and I have consistently found that my audiences share my love for the music. I think that Spanish music has a special direct emotional appeal due to its exciting rhythm and melody. It often has a sensuous quality that is directly appealing to many people. I hope you enjoy hearing this music as much as I enjoyed playing it. By the way, the CD includes a "Spanish" piece by a French composer, Debussy, who, like me, also never visited Spain but loved Spanish music!
Sincerely, Arnold Popkin
BIOGRAPHY
Arnold Popkin has combined a career as an ophthalmologist with a very active musical life. He began piano lessons at age 3, and violin lessons at age 7. He realized at a fairly young age that he would pursue music as a wonderful adjunct to his life rather than as a profession. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for 12 years, including medical school and residency in Ophthalmology. He then practiced in the Princeton, New Jersey, area for 14 years and subsequently in Charlottesville, Virginia since 1980.
His piano teachers include Eleanor Sokoloff, who has taught at the Curtis Institute for many years; Mathilde McKinney, a pupil of Josef Lhevinne; Content Sablinsky, a pupil of Egon Petri; and in recent years, Yuliya Gorenman, a brilliant young pianist living in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Dr. Popkin has given over 20 solo recitals at the University of Virginia, and performs widely throughout Virginia and surrounding states for community performing arts centers, charities, and retirement communities. He has given several concerts at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and frequently performs with professional violinists, cellists, and singers. He and four professional singers recently formed a group called the "Blue Ridge 4 + 1." The group will give concerts throughout Virginia and surrounding states.
This CD was his first, produced in 1996. As of March, 2003, he now has a total of 6 CD's, and plans to record two new CD's every years. All the CD's are available on cdbaby.com. Selections from his CD's are frequently played on classical music stations throughout Virginia.
List of CD's by Arnold Popkin
CD 1 - Chopin, Liszt, and Other Piano Favorites
CD 2 - Piano Favorites, Volume 2
CD 3 - Music from Around the World
CD 4 - My Favorite Chopin
CD 5 - Music of Spain and Latin America
CD 6 - Beethoven, Chopin, and Other Piano Favorites
CD 7 - More of My Favorite Chopin (available May, 2003)
Reviews:
Reviewer: Kathleen Dewes
***** Dr. Popkin's CD, "Music of Spain and Latin America," was so exciting and inspiring, especially for a dancer who once was in the Washington Ballet Company. All I want to do is begin to dance again to his wonderful music.
Reviewer: Carl Witonsky
***** Whether at home, in my office, or driving my car, I have the pleasure of listening to Arnold Popkin's music on each and every CD player. From Chopin to Beethoven to Grieg to Villa-Lobos, my favorites from around the world are beautifully brought to life by his exquisite interpretations.
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