"In "Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me, " presented by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley through Feb. 8, Felder shares his deeply personal story about how he became a sought after pianist who folded his talents into a genre all his own. He does not just play the compositions of luminaries such as Franz Liszt, Frédéric Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven and Bach with nimble fluidity, but acts out their lives, providing insight into the passions of each and how their music changed the world."
"The potency of the story is in how Felder, now 58, looks back on the totality of his life as an older gent, espousing wisdom that comes with age and self-interrogation. It's a life that has seen its share of heartache and loss, which is felt grandly on the stage, dominated by a grand piano that Felder performs on at the most opportune times."
Hershey Felder's piano functions as instrument and metaphor for escape from his family's struggles as Hungarian Jewish immigrants who faced antisemitism and preserved faith. The stage production Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley through Feb. 8) chronicles his rise to a sought-after pianist who blends concert performance with theatrical biography. Felder performs works by Liszt, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven and Bach while embodying their passions and motivations. The piece emphasizes the wisdom of a 58-year-old artist, marked by curiosity, heartache, and resilience. Minimal technology and video imagery support emotional musical moments and heighten theatrical impact.
Read at The Mercury News
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