Description:
This event features the screening of the 2021 documentary movie, “Piano Lessons: The Life and Art of German Diez-Nieto”, followed by an interview with Bennett Lerner and filmmaker and pianist, Francesca Khalifa, and a discussion with the audience. In addition, throughout the discussion, there will be piano demonstrations by our presenters.
The film tells the story of Cuban pianist, German Diez-Nieto, who was a long-time pupil and assistant of the world-famous piano virtuoso, Claudio Arrau, and, therefore, a direct heir to the piano tradition of Liszt and Beethoven. The discussion will focus on the process of transmission of a treasured and historically-important tradition of piano teaching and musical artistry.
Up to now, there has been no formal research into the topic of the modern inheritors of the piano tradition of Franz Liszt. The film, co-authored and co-produced by the Italian filmmaker, Antongiulio Panizzi (Netflix, RAI), and the Italian-Egyptian pianist and scholar, Francesca Khalifa, highlights how Diez-Nieto’s teaching shaped a generation of important musicians, including Grammy-nominated pianist, Erika Nickrenz, Grammy-winning composer and pianist, Joan Tower, and the beloved American pianist and Payap Professor Emeritus, Bennett Lerner, through all of whom Liszt’s teachings were passed on to future generations. The documentary was selected for showings at prestigious festivals, such as the 39th International Turin Film Festival and the Orchestra di Mantova Festival. It has received the official endorsement of the American Liszt Society.
Presenters:
Francesca Khalifa:
Italian-Egyptian pianist, scholar, and filmmaker and Bennett Lerner, American pianist and Professor Emeritus of Payap University. Francesca Khalifa’s prime pianistic mentor was the Cuban pianist and pedagogue, German Diez-Nieto, a protégé of the world-famous piano virtuoso, Claudio Arrau.
Ms. Khalifa has won first prizes in the Ferrara International Piano Festival, the Schio International Piano Competition, the Premio Loreto Lancia International Piano Competition, and the Niccolò van Westerhout Competition. She has appeared as soloist with orchestras in Cairo, Milan, and New York City, and in recital in China, Cuba, and New York City. Ms. Khalifa has presented master classes and lectures at the Pino Torinese Master Classes, Virginia Tech University, the University of Central Florida, and the Edward Said Conservatory in Jerusalem. She has held teaching positions at New York University, the University of Southern Florida in Tampa, and the Greenwich House Music School.
Ms. Khalifa is the founder of the music festivals “Classical Thursdays”, “Beethovenfest”, and The Hidden Treasures Music Festival. Her book, “Claudio Arrau: A Journey Through His Musical Legacy” will be published in the summer of 2025.
Bennett Lerner
American-born pianist, Bennett Lerner, is a 34-year resident of Thailand, a 29-year resident of Chiang Mai, and a Professor Emeritus of Payap University, where he taught for many years. He has performed internationally and with major orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic, and has recorded numerous CDs on the ETC, Bridge, and Albany labels. His gala 72nd birthday concert at Payap’s CRK auditorium can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3acXKCbfTZg