Reception to precede local event. The Congregation Beth Shalom Distinguished Performance Series is getting ready to present one of the most acclaimed pianists of his generation, Norman Krieger, in an exclusive fundraising performance at Krieger’s private residence in Valencia. Invites are open to join Norman Krieger for a rare opportunity for a rich musical experience.
 
This CBS Distinguished Performance Series event is exclusively a “VIP Patron” event, which will include a Gala Reception with the artist from 7-8 p.m. and performance from 8-10 p.m. Mr. Krieger’s music recital program will consist of: two Scarlatti sonatas; Beethoven’s Tempest Sonata; a set of Chopin, including the three Preludes; and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, in its entirety. All guests will receive an autographed copy of Krieger's new CD, Brahms Piano Concerto Number One.

Norman Krieger is the first artist to be featured in the CBS Distinguished Performance Series. CBS’ successful Distinguished Speaker Series, which it launched in 2007, has featured such guests as actor/director/photographer Leonard Nimoy, talk show host and commentator Dennis Prager, and founder of the Daniel Pearl Foundation and father of slain Wall Street Journal reporter, Dr. Judea Pearl. Proceeds from these events help Congregation Beth Shalom provide spiritual, educational and social programming to residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. A portion of the proceeds specifically helps fund special education programs for the Santa Clarita Valley synagogue’s religious school.

A native of Los Angeles, Norman Krieger is highly regarded as an artist of depth, sensitivity and virtuosic flair. Mr. Krieger regularly appears with the major orchestras of North America, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Boston Pops Orchestra. He has been a guest soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Prague's Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Turkey's Presidential Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand's Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Taiwan's National Symphony Orchestra and has been heard throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico and Asia.

His recordings include four albums available on the Artisie 4 label: "Norman Krieger Piano Recital," with music by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin; "American Piano Concertos," featuring works by MacDowell and David Wiley with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr. Wiley; "Raising the Roof," an album of chamber music by Haydn, Bloch, Bruch and Martinu; "The Prince Albert Chamber Music Festival," including works by Barber, Beethoven, Bizet, Chopin, Schubert and Tchaikovsky. Other releases include the two Brahms concerti with the Orchestre Symphonique Francais on the Beaufour label, an all-Gershwin album on Stradivari Classics and "Summerdays," music of Barber, Berg, Bernstein, Gershwin, Glazunov, Lehar and Mozart, from the Musical Masterworks Festival at Old Lyme, featuring Mr. Krieger and additional artists on Well-Tempered.

Norman Krieger is the founding Artistic Director of The Prince Albert Music Festival in Hawaii. In the spring of 1997, he was appointed Associate Professor of the distinguished faculty of the University of Southern California.

Norman Krieger’s VIP Patron reception and performance will be strictly limited to 80 patrons. Tickets are $120, which includes the private reception with wine and heavy hors d’ourvres, Mr. Krieger’s private recital and an autographed copy of his latest CD. Call early to reserve your seats. Sponsorships are still available. For information, you can call Mary at 661/254-2411.