Program Information

Pianist Michael Davidman, winner of the 2025 American Piano Awards, performs a richly varied program spanning more than a century of the piano repertoire. Schubert’s dramatic Sonata in C Minor, D. 958 and Chopin’s sweeping Ballade No. 4 are heard alongside the vivid Spanish colours of Granados’s “Los Requiebros” from Goyescas and “Málaga” and “Jerez” from Albéniz’s Iberia. Franck’s Organ Choral No. 1 in E Major, arranged for piano by Blanche Selva and Michael Davidman, brings the sonority and scale of the organ to the piano, while Rachmaninoff’s powerful Sonata No. 2 showcases the instrument’s full expressive and virtuosic range. New York City-born Davidman has performed at major venues including Salle Cortot, Théâtre du Châtelet, Alice Tully Hall, and Carnegie Recital Hall.

Enrique Granados (1867–1916)
“Los requiebros” from Goyescas, Op. 11

Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Sonata in C Minor, D. 958
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Menuetto: Allegro
IV. Allegro

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Ballade No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 52

Intermission

César Franck (1822–1890)
Choral No. 1 in E Major, FWV 38
from Trois chorals pour orgue
arr. for piano by Blanche Selva and Michael Davidman

Isaac Albéniz (1860–1909)
from Iberia, Book IV
“Málaga”
“Jerez”

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 36
1931 revised version
I. Allegro agitato
II. Non allegro – Lento
III. L’istesso tempo – Allegro molto

Artist Biography

Michael Davidman, piano

One of the most compelling pianists of his generation, Michael Davidman is the winner of the 2025 American Piano Awards and recipient of the Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship. He currently serves as Artist-in-Residence at the University of Indianapolis.

Hailed by The Classical Music Journal for his “sweeping yet refined sentimentality and pyrotechnical prowess,” Davidman has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de la Garde Républicaine, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Freixenet Encuentro Symphony Orchestra, Reina Sofía Orchestra, Monterey Symphony, Symphonicity, and numerous other ensembles across the United States and abroad.

His performances have taken him to such venues as Salle Cortot, Théâtre du Châtelet, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Recital Hall, Kimmel Center, Sandler Center, Symphony Space, Merkin Concert Hall, and Hilbert Circle Theatre. An active recitalist and chamber musician, Davidman has appeared at festivals including the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival at Yale, Music Academy of the West, Kneisel Hall, Music@Menlo, Piano Fest, and Summit Music Festival, as well as the Burgos International Music Festival in Spain and Teatro Alfieri in Italy.

His performances have been heard on WHYY’s “Curtis On Stage,” WQXR’s “McGraw Hill Young Artists Showcase” with Robert Sherman, WSKG-FM’s “Expressions,” NPR’s “From the Top,” and “Piano Evenings with David Dubal.”

Davidman’s other honours include third prize and the Orchestra Prize at the 2022 Long-Thibaud International Piano Competition; first place in the 2019 Juilliard Gina Bachauer Piano Competition; first prize in the chamber ensemble category of the 2018 New York International Piano Competition; first prizes in both solo and concerto categories at the 33rd Ithaca College of Music Piano Competition; the Grand Prize at the ninth LISMA Foundation International Music Competition; and first place in the 2011 Mary Smart International Concerto Competition. He was also the recipient of a four-year scholarship from the Chopin Foundation of the United States.

Davidman earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Robert McDonald and Ford Mylius Lallerstedt, and his Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School, studying with Jerome Lowenthal and Stephen Hough. He completed his Artist Diploma at the International Center for Music in Kansas City, Missouri, where he studied with Stanislav Ioudenitch.

His musical training began at age five at Greenwich House Music School and continued with Efrem Briskin at the Manhattan School of Music. As a precollege student, Davidman won first place in all three age categories of the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Concerto Competition, at ages ten, twelve, and sixteen. At thirteen, he was selected to perform in a Lang Lang masterclass at the Manhattan School of Music, performing Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 10.

Beyond the concert stage, Davidman is a lifelong opera enthusiast and enjoys sharing historical and rare recordings through his YouTube channel, “PucciniMD.” He also occasionally trades the solo spotlight for the role of accompanist during “opera night” at a New York City restaurant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I receive my tickets?
Electronic tickets are emailed immediately after purchase to the email address used at checkout. Please keep your tickets handy on your smart phone or bring a printed copy with you to the concert so we can scan them at the door. If you do not receive your tickets, please check your spam or junk folder, as ticket emails are sometimes blocked or filtered by email providers. You may also wish to search your inbox for “Cecilia Concerts” or your order confirmation. If you still cannot find your tickets, please contact the Cecilia Concerts office before the concert and we’ll be happy to help. Rest assured, if you purchased tickets, your name will also be on our guest list at the door.

What time should I arrive?
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the concert begins at 7:30pm. We recommend arriving a little early so you have time to have your ticket scanned, find a seat, and get settled before the performance begins.

Can I arrive late?
Latecomers will be seated at an appropriate break in the performance, when possible. To avoid disruption to the artists and audience, we recommend arriving before the concert begins.

How long is the concert?
The approximate running time is 1 hour and 45 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission.

What is the seating like?
Tickets are general admission. The Stage at St. Andrew’s has unassigned seating, with chairs on the main floor and pews in the balcony. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bravo Premium subscription holders have reserved access to seating within the first five rows. Please note that the balcony is accessible by stairs only. Wheelchair-accessible seating and companion seating are available on the main floor. If you have an accessibility-related seating need, please let us know when you arrive.

Are children welcome?
Yes, children are always welcome. Please keep in mind that this is a full-length concert in a traditional concert setting. Families may wish to choose seats close to a door in case a quick exit is needed during the performance.

What should I know about concert etiquette?
If you are new to classical concerts, you are very welcome. We simply ask that audience members help create a quiet and respectful environment for the artists and those around them. Please silence your phone before the concert begins, avoid talking during the performance, and wait for pauses between pieces to move around when possible.

When should I clap?
It is always fine to clap when a full piece has ended. Some longer works have several movements, with short pauses in between, and audiences usually wait until the entire work is finished before applauding. If you are unsure, it is perfectly okay to wait and follow the rest of the audience.

Can I use my phone during the concert?
Please silence your phone before the concert begins. We ask that phones and bright screens not be used during the performance, as they can be distracting to artists and audience members.

Can I take photos or videos?
Photos are welcome before or after the concert. Unless otherwise announced, photography, audio recording, and video recording are not permitted during the performance.

What accessibility features are available?
The Stage at St. Andrews is wheelchair accessible and includes accessible washrooms with ramp access. Companion seating is available if required. If you have a specific accessibility question before attending, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Is the venue scent-sensitive?
To help make the concert comfortable for everyone, we ask guests to avoid wearing strong scents or fragrances.

Is there parking or public transit nearby?
The Stage at St. Andrews is located on the corner of Robie Street and Coburg Road. There is no parkade at the venue, but street parking is available in the surrounding area. The venue is also located near major South End Halifax Transit routes.

What happens if there is a storm?
If a storm may affect a performance, ticket holders are encouraged to call the Cecilia Concerts office at 902-423-0143 for a recorded concert update. Updates will also be posted on the Cecilia Concerts website and social media channels.

What happens if a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled?
Concert schedule changes are very rare, but storms or other unexpected circumstances may occasionally require us to make adjustments. If a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled, ticket holders will be contacted as soon as possible with available options. Depending on the circumstances, you may choose to attend the rescheduled concert, receive a credit toward a future Cecilia Concerts performance, request a refund, or convert the value of your ticket into a charitable donation tax receipt.