Liszt Spring Festival is April 14-16

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Music in conjunction with the American Liszt Society will host the 2005 American Liszt Society Spring Festival, April 14-16. "Heaven on Earth: Exploring the Sacred in Music" will be the festival's theme.

A gala piano recital at 7:30 p.m. April 14 in Kimball Recital Hall, 11th and R streets, will feature works inspired by spiritual themes. Music from Messaien and Rachmaninoff to gospel and Bach will be performed by six internationally renowned pianists and members of the American Liszt Society. Tickets are $5 adults, $3 students and are available at the Kimball box office.

At 7:30 p.m. April 15, UNL pianist Paul Barnes in collaboration with Abendmusik Chorus directed by Larry Monson will perform Liszt's progressive and poignant setting of the "Fourteen Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis" at First-Plymouth Congregational Church, 2000 D St. This is the text upon which Pope John Paul II was meditating at the hour of his death. The performance will be dedicated to the memory of the holy father. Tickets are $10 adult, $5 students and are available through Abendmusik at (402) 476-9933, or at the door.

The festival concludes April 16 when the UNL orchestra and choirs under the direction of Tyler White will perform the world premier of a new edition of Liszt's monumental "Christus: An Oratoria on Texts from Holy Scripture and the Catholic Liturgy." The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. Featured soloists will be Ariel Bybee and William Shomos. Tickets are $29/$24/$19 for general reserved, student youth are $14.50/$12/$9.50, and are available through the Lied Center box office, (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231.

For more information, visit the School of Music Web site (www.unl.edu/music).

CONTACT: Mike Edholm