
Peter Allen
Concert pianist Peter Allen has continually delighted audiences with his
power and poetry as a pianist, composer, teacher and conductor. With two solo
CD's to his credit, Peter has a new one in the works including the Brahms
Handel Variations and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. He is currently
Professor of Piano at Dalhousie University's Department of Music. Also an
active composer, he accepts commissions, the most recent by CBC for a piano
concerto called "Hurricane Juan", to be premiered by Symphony Nova Scotia with
Peter as soloist on September 25, 2008 in Halifax. He had the honour of being
the only music finalist for the 2006 N.S. Lieutenant Governor's Masterworks
Award for his orchestral work "Variations on the Halifax Explosion". As a
pianist, he is often heard on CBC regional and national radio.
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REVIEWS
"...for Mozart's Piano concerto in A+, Peter Allen...gave a lilting,
musical performance...displaying total control of the instrument with a
fluency in the classical style...coaxing out of the piano nuance and
passion..."
THE GUARDIAN
Friday, April 7, 2000
"...Peter Allen's wonderfully rich, lavishly pianistic and wholly
absorbing Haligonian Rhapsody, a new work for two pianos which he and Torbert
absolutely tore up the house with...rhythmically vigorous and musically
resourceful...developed with ideal musical logic...contrasted agitation and
grace..."
THE MAIL STAR
Monday, April 26, 1999
"Allen's vigorous rhythmic energy and the powerful bravura of his
two-handed octave work at the blistering tempo with which Brahms ended his
trio, anchored the ensemble with ferocious tenacity."
THE CHRONICLE HERALD
Saturday, June 5, 1999
"His Chopin ripples, his Debussy effervesces, his Mendelsohn confronts,
and his own music surprises, challenges and delights."
THE MAIL STAR
November 23, 1998
"...Allen's clear-eyed playing (Chopin f- Concerto) lent a rare
objectivity to this lovely music, without sacrificing any of its elegance.
The phrases...were beautifully timed and full of natural grace."
THE CHRONICLE HERALD
October 23, 1997
"...technically brilliant...successfully conveyed all of the sparkle and
pianistic acrobatics required when performing Liszt's concert works...dramatic
interpretation..."
THE EVENING TELEGRAM
March 29, 1997
"...phrases lovingly sculptured...Allen has a way of pulling you in to
his performances...with energy and irresistible force, Allen's powerful hands
drove him straight through the final three b flats and into a standing
ovation." (Prokofiev 7th Sonata).
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