Film Overview

Filmed at Steinway Hall in New York City and venues throughout New England, here’s almost 2 hours worth of great piano performances from Paul Bisaccia’s PBS television shows.
The music includes Chopin, Liszt, Prokofieff, Rachmaninoff and “Great American Piano” composers Gershwin, Joplin, Gottschalk, Eubie Blake, and Sousa. Included with the music is Mr. Bisaccia’s fascinating commentary. Also included is the world premiere of a major piano work by 19th century composer Dudley Buck filmed at Immanuel Congregational Church in Hartford where Buck was music minister.
Bisaccia plays the music of Chopin on a gorgeous and rare 1896 Rosewood Steinway including a performance of Chopin’s celebrated “Heroic” Polonaise. He also shares remembrances of Horowitz and Rubinstein, as well as previously unpublished photos of Rubinstein from his personal collection.

Includes:
Steinway Hall, New York City
1. Inside the Rachmaninoff Room
2. Rimsky-Korsakoff/Rachmaninoff, Flight of the Bumble Bee
3. Frederic Chopin, Waltz in E minor Op. posth.
4. Sergei Rachmaninoff, Prelude in E-flat Major Op. 23 No.6
5. Mussorgsky/Rachmaninoff, Hopak

Historic First Congregational Church West Springfield MA
Frederic Chopin
6. Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor Op. 31
7. Fantasie- Impromptu in C-Sharp Minor Op. 66
(with David Giardina, vocalist)
8. Prelude in F-sharp Major Op. 28 no.13
9. Waltz in C-Sharp minor Op.64 no. 2
10. Polonaise in A-flat “Heroic” Op. 53

11. Franz Liszt, Czardas Obstine
12. Sergei Prokofiev, March from “The Love for Three Oranges”

Nelson Hall, Cheshire CT
13. Frederic Chopin, Preludes in G major and D minor Op. 28

Immanuel Congregational Church, Hartford CT
14. Dudley Buck, Introduction and Rondo Brillante Op. 7

The Great American Piano Revisited
15. Eubie Blake, Troublesome Ivories
16. John Philip Sousa, Semper Fidelis March
17. Gottschalk, Tournament Galop
18. The Great American Piano Promo
19. Scott Joplin, Maple Leaf Rag
20. George Gershwin, Rialto Ripples Rag
21.George Gershwin, Swanee
22.George Gershwin, I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise
23. Louis Moreau Gottschalk , Union
24. John Philip Sousa, Stars and Stripes Forever

Bonus tracks with David Giardina, vocalist
25. Paul and Dave’s Simply Chopin Promo
26. Stephen Foster, Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair
27. E. Burnett, G. Norton, Melancholy Baby
28. Zez Confrey, Dizzy Fingers
29. Frederic Chopin, The Minute Waltz

Playing time: 1 hour 50 minutes

"Consumate musicianship." Michael Feinstein

“Delivered with power, poignancy, authority and aplomb. “ Worcester Telegram Gazette

"For Gershwin interpretations, Bisaccia wins hands down." American Record Guide