Calvary University is proud to host seasoned concert pianist, Mr. Sam Rotman, and his performance, Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary Concert.
Mr. Rotman received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School in N.Y.C. His most prestigious award was being a Laureate Winner at the 4th International Beethoven Competition in Vienna, Austria in 1973. In 1978, Mr. Rotman participated in the 6th International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow, Russia. Mr. Rotman has given over 3,100 performances in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, Eastern and Western Europe, Southeast Asia, South Africa, India, China, and Russia, totaling 61 countries.
Mr. Rotman has devoted a specific area of his musical life to the study and performance of the works of Beethoven. Beginning with a series of all Beethoven concerts in 1970 (the Beethoven bi‑centennial), he was presented on Public Broadcast System in a special Beethoven concert. He has also released an all-Beethoven CD, featuring five major works of the composer. For the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven, Mr. Rotman will be performing an all-Beethoven program.
The concert at Calvary will be an All-Beethoven program in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Beethoven.
In May 2016, Mr. Rotman was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree from The Master’s University. He is the only recipient of such an Honorary Doctorate in the school’s history.
Mr. Rotman’s recordings include:
- Impressions: Piano Portraits of Claude Debussy;
- Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition with Piano Works by Rachmaninoff, and
- Piano Music of Beethoven.
Reviewers in the United States, and France have noted the following about Mr. Rotman’s performances:
“Mr. Rotman is a pianist of no small talent. He possesses a thoroughly prepared technique. He is a mature and thoughtful interpreter and his playing is convincing and alive, He enjoys his work and is able to communicate his ideas and his enthusiasm to his audience. His playing was profound, expressive, dynamic, and exciting.”
“Mr. Rotman’s interpretation of the Beethoven “Pathetique” Sonata left you with nothing more to wish for as far as getting close to the composer’s dramatic way of gaining his listeners. All of the many details of this music were being expressed. Every piece was played with the same brilliance.”
In addition to his concert, Mr. Rotman will give his Christian testimony.
The performance will be held on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 7:00 PM in Calvary University’s Liberty Chapel on 1570 Elmwood Ave, Kansas City, Missouri. All are welcome to attend, free of charge.