Program Information

Pianist Michael Davidman, winner of the 2025 American Piano Awards, performs a program featuring J.S. Bach, Schubert, Franck, and Liszt. Bach’s Toccata in D Major opens the evening, followed by Schubert’s Sonata in C Minor. Franck’s Organ Choral No. 2, heard in Blanche Selva’s arrangement for solo piano, adds a less often heard work to the program, and Liszt’s Sonata in B Minor closes the concert. New York City-born Davidman has performed at major venues including Salle Cortot, Théâtre du Châtelet, Alice Tully Hall, and Carnegie Recital Hall.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
Toccata in D major, BWV 912
I. Presto
II. Allegro
III. Adagio
IV. [No tempo indication]
V. Con discrezione
VI. Presto
VII. Fuga

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

Intermission

César Franck (1822–1890)
Choral No. 2 in B minor
Arranged for piano by Blanche Selva

Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
Sonata in B minor, S. 178

Artist Biography

Michael Davidman, piano

Michael Leonardo Davidman is an award-winning American pianist whose performances have taken him to major stages across the United States and Europe. Known for his powerful command of the instrument, refined musical intelligence, and expressive depth, he is widely recognized as one of the most compelling pianists of his generation. In 2025, he was named Winner of the American Piano Awards and received the prestigious Christel DeHaan Fellowship, an honor that places him among the most distinguished pianists in the nation.

Hailed for playing of “thunderous authority and loads of interpretive nuance,” which “swept everything before it,” (Jay Harvey, Upstage, American Piano Awards, 2024), Davidman appears regularly as a soloist and recitalist throughout the United States and Europe. He has performed with leading ensembles including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Monterey Symphony, and the Orchestre Symphonique de la Garde Républicaine (Paris). His performances have been heard in such renowned venues as Salle Cortot and Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Symphony Space, the Kimmel Center, and Ambassador Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Internationally, Davidman has appeared in Spain, Italy, Russia, and France, with major performances at the Long-Thibaud International Piano Competition in Paris, the Burgos International Music Festival, Teatro Alfieri, and the International Academy of Music in St. Petersburg. At Long-Thibaud, ResMusica praised his Tchaikovsky First Concerto for its “aristocratic sound, great lyricism, wide dynamic palette, and flamboyant interpretation,” awarding him both Third Prize and the prestigious Orchestra Prize (ResMusica, Paris, 2022). His semifinal performance was described as “breathtaking and flamboyant,” with “chiseled and fiery playing” (Pianiste Magazine, Paris, 2022).

As a chamber musician, Davidman has been hailed for his “delicate force… answering phrases as if in conversation,” in performances with the Dover String Quartet, with critics calling his Franck Piano Quintet “captivating” (Jay Harvey, Upstage, 2021). His performance of Franck’s Prélude, Choral et Fugue was described as “as fine a performance of this masterpiece as I ever hope to hear,” with “remarkable clarity of layered voices and a heart-stirring climax” (Jay Harvey, Upstage, 2024).

His concerto appearances have likewise drawn critical acclaim. At the Monterey Symphony, his performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 was called “dazzling, charming, and magnificently spontaneous,” with his technique so “beautifully controlled that the difficulties disappeared” (Lyn Bronson, Peninsula Reviews, 2018). At the Music Academy of the West, his performance of Rachmaninoff’s Sonata was described as “electrifying,” marked by “sweeping yet refined sentimentality and pyrotechnical prowess” (Leonne Lewis, The Classical Music Journal, 2017).

Beyond his most recent American Piano Awards triumph and Long-Thibaud success, Davidman’s honors include First Prize at the Juilliard Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, First Prize at the New York International Piano Competition (Chamber Ensemble Division), First Prizes in both the Soloist and Concerto Categories at the Ithaca College Piano Competition, the Grand Prize at the LISMA Foundation International Music Competition, and First Place at the Mary Smart International Concerto Competition. He was also a Finalist of the 2021 American Pianists AssociationCompetition and a recipient of a four-year scholarship from the Chopin Foundation of the United States and was recently awarded to the Young Steinway Artist  roster. 

A lifelong opera enthusiast, Davidman maintains a deep connection to the vocal world. He curates rare and historic recordings on his YouTube channel PucciniMD and frequently collaborates with singers in live performance. One critic captured this dual artistic identity perfectly after a Puccini transcription encore: “‘Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore’—who expressed it better than Puccini? And who can represent it as well as artists of Michael Davidman’s caliber?” (Jay Harvey, Upstage, 2024).

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.