Pianists André Watts Graces McCallum Theatre

The McCallum Theatre is proud to present legendary pianist André Watts on Sunday, January 28 at 7pm.

Born in Nuremburg, Germany, Watts was the son of an African American career soldier, Sergeant Herman Watts, and a Hungarian mother, Maria Alexandra Gusmits. Young Watts lived in Europe, mostly near army posts, until the age of eight when a change in his father's military assignment moved the family to the United States and settled in Philadelphia. Watts began studying the violin at age four but by the time he was six, he made it known that his preference was for the piano, so his mother, a pianist herself, gave him his first lessons.

Ten years later, André Watts burst upon the music world at the age of 16 when Leonard Bernstein chose him to make his debut with the New York Philharmonic in their Young People's Concerts, broadcast nationwide on CBS-TV. Only two weeks later, Bernstein asked him to substitute at the last minute for the ailing Glenn Gould in performances of Liszt's E-flat Concerto with the New York Philharmonic, thus launching his career in storybook fashion. More than 45 years later, André Watts remains one of today's most celebrated and beloved classical superstars. His performances each year with the world's great orchestras and conductors and his sold-out recitals and appearances at the most prestigious international festivals bring him to every corner of the globe.

In addition to his regular visits to the major summer music festivals including Ravinia, Tanglewood, Saratoga, the Mann Music Center, Mostly Mozart and the Hollywood Bowl, Andre Watts' recent engagements include appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Houston, Dallas, National, St. Louis, Atlanta, Cincinnati and Seattle symphonies; a tour with the Israel Philharmonic with performances in Boston, Chicago and Atlanta; recitals at New York's Lincoln Center and Metropolitan Museum, the Kennedy Center and Disney Hall in Los Angeles; a Carnegie Hall appearance with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; a European tour with the Baltimore Symphony; and an appearance at the Proms in London.

Mr. Watts has also had a long and frequent association with television, having appeared on numerous programs produced by PBS, the BBC and the Arts and Entertainment Network, performing with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center among others. His 1976 New York recital, aired on the program Live From Lincoln Center, was the first full length recital broadcast in the history of television and his performance at the 38th Casals Festival in Puerto Rico was nominated for an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Individual Achievement in Cultural Programming. His most recent television appearances are with the Philadelphia Orchestra on the occasion of the orchestra's 100th Anniversary Gala, a program broadcast nationwide as well as throughout Europe and Asia and with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Mr. Watts' latest recording release features both Liszt piano concertos and MacDowell's Concerto No. 2 with the Dallas Symphony led by Andrew Litton for Telarc. This followed his critically acclaimed recording of Tchaikovsky's Concerto No. 1 and Saint-Saëns' Concerto No. 2 with the Atlanta Symphony conducted by Yoel Levi for the same label. Additionally, his discography of solo recordings includes The Chopin Recital (named CD of the month by Stereo Review) and The Schubert Recital, both on the Angel/EMI label. He is also included in the Great Pianists of the 20th Century series for Philips and has numerous recording on the SONY Classical label.

A much-honored artist who has played before royalty in Europe and heads of government in nations all over the world, André Watts is one of today's greatest living pianists. -- www.mccallumtheatre.com