MUSIC

For her 21st exercise in honoring composer anniversaries with concerts by NEC faculty, alumni, and guests, Tatyana Dudochkin of the NEC Preparatory School piano faculty offers a salute to Franz Liszt (1811–1886) on his bicentennial. WGBH radio announcer Ron Della Chiesa hosts the event.

Dudochkin and fellow pianists Sergey Schepkin and Mykola Suk take on Liszt's signature instrument in works including Totentanz, with Suk as soloist and Steven Karidoyanes conducting NEC's Youth Symphony Orchestra. The piano is also highlighted in the Hungarian Rhapsodies: No. 2 for two pianos (Dudochkin and Schepkin) and No. 12 for solo piano (Suk).

While the piano works are known to all, some other works on this program, though fine examples of Liszt's art, are less often heard. Metropolitan Opera tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan, Boston Lyric Opera mezzo-soprano Victoria Avetisyan, and Opera Boston soprano Yelena Dudochkin remind us that Liszt is more than piano music, with Die Loraley for soprano and orchestra, and songs with piano accompaniment: "Freudvoll und leidvoll," "Der du von dem Himmel bist," "O Lieb." The human voice is also represented by choral works: Beth Willer conducts the NEC Youth Camerata in "L'Eternel est son nom" and "Ave Maria."

Dudochkin is pianist in other instrumental works: Romance oubliée with cellist Sam Ou, and Première élégie with Ou, harpist Rebecca Bogers, and organist Constantine Finehouse.

In addition to the orchestral works with pianist and vocal soloist, the Youth Symphony Orchestra takes the spotlight with Les Préludes.