CLASSICAL & ORIGINAL BEHR WORKS
Critically acclaimed pianist/composer James Behr's concerts feature his dazzling original music & classical favorites. In a fresh approach, he shares giant artistry, charming stories & wit.
Behr in concert at Carnegie Hall (Weill).
SAMPLE PROGRAMS & CONCERTS
1. NEW AUDIENCE CONCERTS
James Behr's innovative New Audiences approach is ideal for new and younger audiences. Addressing the well-documented decline of interest in classical music and the need to rebuild the audience base, New Audiences caters to James Behr's talents as a pianist/composer and a fun, light-hearted speaker. New Audiences features audience-friendly works with ethnic diversity, including classical, ragtime and original Blue-Age works by James Behr. His folksy speaking approach spices up his concerts as he shares personal artistic experiences and intriguing stories about the music and composers. Programs are designed based upon audience age and venue. Post-concert lectures and question-and-answer sessions are available. Listed below are three colorful approaches for one-hour concerts:
2. PIANIST/COMPOSER RECITALS
Catering to classical music audiences, standard repertoire is paired with James Behr's original works and presented with a twist of commentary about the composers and music. Commentary and original music can be toned down or omitted for the most traditional venues. These recitals are unusual insofar as including colorfully original works by James Behr with personalities that are melodic, charming, profound, exciting, and uniquely American. (An abbreviated repertoire list and sample programs are below.)
3. ORIGINAL MUSIC BY JAMES BEHR
American composer James Behr's original works for piano, musical theatre, ensemble, voice and symphony orchestra offer flexibility in terms of venue and programming. Behr presents an all-original piano concert featuring his diverse and colorful solo piano works, which are equally at home with mainstream, jazz, Classical, and new-age audiences. His piano works include the impressive Rhapsody Tableaux (available both as a piano concerto and for solo piano) and Suite Memoirs, a collection of eleven exciting and melodic Blue-age works. Behr's Blue-Age works for ensemble (drums, synthesizers, bass and piano) feature his fusion Classical-rock-jazz style. His symphonic works are excellently suited for classical or pops orchestras. His songs are melodic and mainstream (R&B ballads, Broadway and art songs) and are included in the Classics To Broadway program (as noted below).
4. YOUNG PERSON'S STAGED MUSICAL
The Jungle Island: a modern musical fairy tale for children ages 5 to 85 (50 minutes, cast of four singers; book, music & lyrics by James Behr). Out of the tradition of Prokofiev's Peter & The Wolf, this charming work can be performed with live piano accompaniment or a fully orchestrated CD soundtrack. This program is also excellently-suited for symphonic orchestras, musical theaters and young persons concerts. Costumes and props are optional.
5. CLASSICS TO BROADWAY
The unique Classics to Broadway program features James Behr performing solo piano works alongside outstanding Broadway performers singing classics from the best-loved musicals, operas and operettas, including Westside Story, Gypsy, South Pacific, Les Miserables, Cats, The Mikado, Mozart's Magic Flute, Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Lehar's Merry Widow, Verdi's La Traviata, Puccini's La Boheme, and Vaudeville classics. Also included are original solo piano and vocal works by composer James Behr who moderates the program. This flexible program may also include chamber works for violin and piano. Classics to Broadway will prove to be popular with a wide variety of audiences throughout the world and is versatile in terms of programs being custom-designed for specific audienc
es, venues and age groups.
"Sample Programs/Concerts/Repertoire List"
