Andreas Klein: Huntington's New Piano Virtuoso

Originally published in "The Improper North Shoreian," Volume I, Issue 12 - December 2008

"All good music has a plot." In letting those stories unfold and their characters develop, classical pianist Andreas Klein translates even the most cerebral music into an engaging narrative. Clear declamation, deliberate phrasing, and well thought-out musical choices create a cast of characters that, for Klein, "might argue or be friends, have a love obsession, or whatever. And that makes the piece more interesting." His understanding of the music allows it to communicate clearly to his listeners.

Klein performed in the Parish Hall of Old First Church in Huntington on Sunday, November 23. His concert entitled "Postcard from Italy" was presented by Ridotto concerts and featured a diverse selection of works conceived in or inspired by Italy and the Italian style. "I do not necessarily endorse the idea that we have to go back in time and perform [music] in the way it was written," explains Klein. "Music is not a time machine. It has to move through the centuries. I still believe the spirit has to be retained in whatever you do. If you describe a piece in a way that obscures the composer, that is bad. If it's in the style, if it's in their mind, then why not try it in a new way?" Hearing Klein perform, one can simultaneously perceive his vision of the piece and the intention of the composer.

As a pianist, Klein's performance has been described as refined, elegant, and fascinating. His performance of Bach's Italian Concerto on Sunday was spirited and energetic, and Mendelssohn's Venetian Boat Song, Opus 30 no. 6 was disarmingly delicate and sentimental. He was completely in his element performing Dallapiccola's Sonatina Canonica, especially in the fourth movement Alla Marcia where his clarity and temperament were exemplary. His technical proficiency and robust interpretive style were evidenced throughout, infusing the performance with nuance and intention.

A native of Germany, Klein attended Julliard before going on to have a successful international touring career. "At Julliard, your outlook of musical life means that you are studying a piece, and preparing a piece, and rehearsing. You're concerned with your career and preparing for a competition, etc. You focus on the objective." Klein found, as his career progressed, that performing was the real pleasure. Connecting with an audience and fostering the communication of a composer's work to that audience is what he finds important. And championing classical music means performing - regularly.

Klein has frequently been heard on NPR's "Performance Today", as well as on numerous local and syndicated radio programs. He was a featured guest live three times on WGBH Boston and KUHF Houston. In addition to being a frequent television and radio guest, Klein created a series of short works by composers such as Chopin, Debussy and Stravinsky which he called Intermezzo with Andreas Klein. These programs, which were designed to attract and introduce television audiences to classical music, were seen on PBS television stations nationwide. "Musician's Portrait" was filmed by Berlin for ORB TV in Germany, in conjunction with a concert at the Neuhardenberg Castle. He also premiered and recorded Mendelssohn's Concerto in A minor with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony. Klein's performance in Dresden with the Halle Orchestra of the late Beethoven Sonatas, of Liszt's Totentanz, and of Frank's Symphonic Variations was a nationwide broadcast by MDR Radio.

"I have two lives: One, as a concert pianist, another as a recording engineer for concert music. I divide my time unequally between the two." Andreas Klein, being both an internationally renowned performer and the head of a successful recording company, has become an ambassador in the service of the music he loves to perform. "Classical music is less popular than pops," Klein explains. "Classical performance is not just about the music (styles, composers, etc), but to bring the message of classical music to the world. They might want to buy a CD and think that it is more interesting than what they can hear on the radio."

Andreas Klein comes to the North shore courtesy of Adelphi University where he is the Recording Director for the new Performing Arts Center, Adelphi University's 500-seat concert hall. Two seasons ago he gave a recital at the university and fell in love with the island. He was asked to become a consultant for the equipment purchases used for their classical recordings. Within a few weeks he was made the Recording Director, which naturally follows given his extensive experience. Klein's recording company ULTIMO Productions is a "boutique-style audio recording service exclusively designed for classical music". "I realized that there are very few people who do nothing but classical recording. At that time (about 10 years ago) I lived in Houston, Texas. I moved to the vicinity of Manhattan with the hope of recording more musicians. Eventually, I got the opportunity to work with Adelphi University."

Klein intends to establish a curriculum designed to teach students at Adelphi University how to create a classical CD. "To record a classical ensemble, students have to know what is being recorded and how that should sound. When you are recording a Baroque opera you need to know how that compares to a symphony or a work by Mahler. Students need to know how that is different from bluegrass or rock-and-roll." Mr. Klein is an ideal instructor in this regard, having extensive experience in performing and recording for National Public Radio. "As a classical musician I have been there [in the recording studio] many times," he confesses. "I have made recordings myself, and I have been recorded by others. So I understand firsthand what the performer is experiencing. I have been at the piano bench and I bring that to the recording. … If I'm the producer, I work with the musicians to make them feel comfortable, both with the equipment and the recording itself."

And while he may be settling in to a new position at Adelphi University, he certainly is not settling down. In addition to fulfilling his obligations at Adelphi and ULTIMO Productions he continues to concertize regularly.