Portland Piano Preparation /  by Elizabeth Roe

The pandemic has caused disruption of some sort in everyone’s life, around the world. Throughout the summer months, we’ve worked around the clock to put together an ambitious two-day Virtual Extravaganza—streaming live this weekend!—in partnership with Portland Piano International as our response to the current state of the performing arts industry and society at large.

One of the biggest artistic challenges of quarantined existence has been virtual collaborative performance. We’ve encountered substantial obstacles in attempting to recreate the synchronization of an in-person performance; alas, we are isolated across the country from each other nearly 3,000 miles apart. Latency caused by transmitting audio over the internet can preclude coordination in real-time. Even with the fastest available internet connections, sophisticated equipment, and a listener’s potential tolerance for the inevitable delays, we have been inspired to seek new creative solutions for this issue, all of which will be on display during this weekend’s performances!

After months of hard work, we are extremely excited to share these unique, interactive events with you! Purchase your ticket for our two-day concert experience now. Join us on August 15 & 16 at 7pm ET / 4pm PT for the magic of live concerts, with all the spontaneity, risk, and connection we cherish. On the docket:

  • The world premieres of five new Anderson & Roe arrangements

  • Nearly a dozen brand-new music videos

  • Live performances of solo and duo piano music

  • A live appearance by the winner of our Maple Leaf Rag youth competition (featured in our playful three-piano music video)

  • Gerd Kühr's Corona Meditation performed by over 30 pianists from Portland & beyond

  • Piano miniatures of Satie narrated live by Portland-based luminaries

  • The opportunity to title our as-of-yet unnamed composition for multiple pianos based on Balakirev's Islamey

  • Our mashup up of Rach 2 and "All By Myself"

  • Trivia competitions

  • Curated commentary

Each ticket grants access to both performances—use the discount code “lizandgreg2020” for 20% off.

Our mission to make classical music a powerful and relevant force in our society is as important as ever. We could not do this work without the love and support from our inspirational families, friends, and fans. We appreciate all of you beyond words and cannot wait to connect with you in person again. Until then, we’ll connect with you and with each other as closely as the speed of light and the physical distance will allow.

Portland Piano Virtual Extravaganza /  by Elizabeth Roe

Back in March, right before the world seemingly turned upside down, we were eagerly looking forward to performing in Portland (one of our favorite cities!). The concerts were postponed, as were the remainder of our 2020 live events, and we found ourselves isolated apart, mulling over how we could best continue our mission to make classical music a relevant and powerful force in society. Since the lockdown began, we edited and released new music videos that speak to our time (including our Hallelujah Variations), appeared on various virtual panels, and connected with our fans via our weekly Facebook Live show #TwoPianoTuesdays (Tuesdays at 6pm EDT).

But when Portland Piano International asked us to present two virtual performances this August, we took a deep breath and wondered whether such a thing were possible or even worthwhile, especially when we already have dozens of previously prepared music videos that audiences can watch on their own time. We asked ourselves, “How can we recreate everything we love about live performance, but in a virtual world?” It wouldn’t be worth the trouble without a strong sense of community, the thrill of risk taking, and a profound connection with humanity.

We faced further challenges knowing the two of us couldn’t perform together in person. Typically we’re at each other’s side during our jam-packed touring careers, though we *technically* reside on opposite coasts. Now with changing travel/lockdown situations and Greg's regular exposure to the virus (his husband is an ER doctor working hard on the frontlines), we decided it would be safest to isolate in our respective homes over 2,500 miles apart.

Nevertheless, Portland Piano’s proposal kicked our creativity and inspiration into high gear, and our brainstorming sessions were flooded with exciting new ideas! We’ve spent the past several weeks devising, organizing, and preparing, and we’re finally ready to announce our Virtual Piano Extravaganza, set for August 15 & 16.

We are resolved to make these virtual events feel impactful and relevant to our times, surprising, highly interactive, and lovingly tailored to the city of Portland. Our goal is to capture the in-the-moment essence of live performance and provide a valuable opportunity for music-lovers, both locally and around the world, to connect with each other and the joy of piano music. Featuring multiple world premieres of new compositions and music videos, each concert will invite key participation from members of the Portland Piano community and our global fanbase.

We’ve planned question & answer sessions, trivia competitions (with prizes!), and curated commentary in addition to nearly a dozen new music videos, five new Anderson & Roe arrangements, and live performances of solo and duo music. Look forward to a cosmic performance of Gerd Kühr’s “Corona Meditation” featuring dozens of local Portland pianists, our new multi-piano fantasy based on Balakirev’s Islamey (you can help us pick the title!), the winner of our youth competition featured in a wild and funky three-piano music video, piano works of Satie’s narrated by Portland thespians and luminaries, debriefs with Performance Today’s Fred Child, and much more.

But these events need YOU! See how you can participate in the festivities and learn more about the programs here. It’ll be a classical piano experience like you’ve never seen before. We can’t wait to see you there!

N.B. Use discount code “lizandgreg2020” for 20% off your tickets.