Pittsburgh Song Collaborative Presents ‘Songs Remembered and Forgotten’

Longtime friends and collaborators, pianist Dr. Benjamin Binder and soprano Sari Gruber will team up again this weekend as part of the Pittsburgh Song Collaborative (PSC) at Duquesne University.

The duo will present some of their favorite numbers in the genre of classical art song from Claude Debussy to Richard Strauss during Songs Remembered and Forgotten on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the PNC Recital Hall of the Mary Pappert School of Music.

“Many of the songs in the program we’ve done before,” said Binder, coordinator of the PSC. “We wanted to treat ourselves to some of our favorite songs that we’ve done together as well as try a few things we’ve done separately, and also some new songs.”

Binder and Gruber have been friends for nearly 20 years, having first met as undergraduates at Yale University. Today, Binder is an associate professor and chair of musicianship at Duquesne University. Gruber, who recently performed with the Pittsburgh Opera, has been featured with operas in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and others.

Songs Remembered and Forgotten will include Debussy’s Ariettes Oubliées; pieces from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Twelve Romances; Edvard Grieg’s Six Songs, op. 48; Charles Ives’ Serenity and Memories; Samuel Barber’s The Daisies, op. 2 no. 1 and Nocturne, op. 13 no. 4; William Bolcom’s Amor from Cabaret Songs, Vol. 1; and Strauss’ Das Rosenband, op. 36 no. 1 and Hat Gesagt–Bleibt’s Nicht Dabei, op. 36 no. 3 (1897, 1898 and 1918).

While songs will be sung in German, French, Russian and English, the lyrics will be translated onto a screen during the concert, and Binder will serve as a cabaret-style narrator for the audience.

Admission is $10. For more information, call 412.396.6083 or visit http://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/music/events/psc.