Pre-concert lecture by Carol Hess, Professor of Musicology (Michigan State University) at 7:15. Renowned pianist and SMTD alumna, Barbara Nissman will be the special guest soloist with the University Symphony Orchestra, conducted by its music director, Kenneth Kiesler for this special evening featuring the three piano concertos of the Argentine composer, Alberto Ginastera. This concert will mark the official reintroduction of Ginastera’\&##39;s Concierto Argentino, written in 1935 and later withdrawn by the composer. Aurora Nátola-Ginastera, the late widow of the composer, granted Barbara Nissman exclusivity to perform the work and to make its first recording. The concert will also include be the first performance of the “original” version of Ginastera\&##39;’s Piano Concerto No. 2, written in 1972. This concerto was jointly commissioned by the Indianapolis Symphony and the late Austrian pianist, Hilde Somer. Working from the composer’\&##39;s original score that he gave her personally, Ms. Nissman will present the first performance of his original work. Ginastera wrote the second movement scherzo for the right hand alone (per la mano destra). However, Ms. Somer transcribed it herself for the left hand alone (per la mano sinistra) making significant changes in the piano writing. Ms. Somer also altered the ending of the finale, which Nissman has restored to its original version. The concert also includes a performance of the popular First Piano Concerto, written in 1962 and made even more popular by Emerson, Lake & Palmer\&##39;s well-known transcription of the finale\&##39;s Toccata. Barbara has performed this concerto with the Chicago Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the St. Louis Symphony, as well as presenting its Dutch premiere at Amsterdam’\&##39;s Concertgebouw and its UK premiere with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. At the composer’\&##39;s invitation, she played the First Piano Concerto for his 60th birthday celebration concert with l’\&##39;Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Well known for her recordings of the complete solo works and piano/chamber works, now available on the Pierian label, Barbara Nissman is also the dedicatee of Ginastera’\&##39;s final composition, the Third Piano Sonata. Barbara first met the composer Alberto Ginastera while she was a student at the University of Michigan and was performing his First Piano Concerto with the University Orchestra. How fitting that she should return to Michigan to perform and record his complete Concertos with Kenneth Kiesler, recently named winner of The American Prize for conducting, and the USO, winner of The American Prize in orchestral performance.. " I so much am looking forward to our working together- what an exciting project and what wonderful and magical music! What a joy this will be!”"