Leon Bates, celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 18, 2010, 9:00 pm

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Front Row Washington features a recital from the National Gallery of Art. We welcome African-American pianist Leon Bates performing on what is believed to be the same piano used at Marion Anderson's legendary 1939 concert on the National Mall. This all-American program features works by Edward MacDowell, H. Leslie Adams, R. Nathaniel Dett, and an arrangement by Mr. Bates of jazz guitar great Pat Metheney's So May It Secretly Begin. A versatile and exciting pianist, Leon Bates has performed in major concert halls in the US and on five continents.  Career highlights include playing with Lorin Maazel and the Orchestra of France, participating in the Steinway Foundation's Gala Celebration commemorating the building of their 500,000th piano at Carnegie Hall, and appearing in a televised program from La Scala in Milan.

Featured performances:
Edward MacDowell
Sonata in E Minor (1901)

H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932)
Two Etudes:
G Minor (1998)
G Major (1998)

Pat Metheny (arr: Leon Bates)
So May It Secretly Begin

R. Nathaniel Dett
Barcarolle Morning
Juba Dance (From In the Bottoms, 1913)