Paul Berkowitz, Faculty Recital
Friday, April 17, 2026 | 7:30 pm
Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall, UC Santa Barbara
Robert Schumann – Fantasy Pieces and other stories
Faculty pianist Paul Berkowitz picks up where he left off after his performances of Robert Schumann’s Humoreske in 2024 and Fantasie in 2025 (soon to be released together as a CD and streaming album for Meridian Records). He continues on April 17 with an entire evening of Schumann piano music in Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall, spanning the composer’s life. Opening with a group of five early evocative short pieces from Bunte Blätter (Colored Leaves), op. 99, he follows with one of Schumann’s most beloved collections, the eight Fantasiestücke, op. 12, displaying Schumann’s dual personalities – the dreamy poet and exuberant extrovert – in full flood. Mr. Berkowitz will then perform the hardly known late second set of three Fantasiestücke, op. 111, reflecting Schumann’s soul at its most troubled in music of astonishing imagination. The recital will conclude with the warm and tender Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), op. 82, a virtualsong cycle for solo piano, epitomizing the Romantic approach to nature.