April 5, 2003 – The classical piano duo of Dallas Weekley and Nancy Arganbright will perform in recital at the Estate Whim Plantation Museum on Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, as part of the museum's Candlelight Concert Series.
Weekley and Arganbright, partners in life as well as art, have been performing together for more than 40 years. Sharing the same piano, they have presented more four-hand performances than any other artists in the genre. They perform entirely from memory.
One-piano, four-hand performance gained credence as an art form in the 18th century and flourished in the Romantic era of the 19th. Largely ignored as a concert medium in the early 20th century, it was revived in great part by Weekley and Arganbright, who began making concert tours in 1960 that have taken them throughout the world.
They have toured under the auspices of Community Concerts, (a division of Columbia Artists Management, New York; and Allied Concerts of Minneapolis, among other management. In the United States, they have performed in Carnegie Hall Recital Hall and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and have appeared with numerous symphony orchestras.
Abroad, their tours have taken them to the major cities of England, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Russia, Korea, China and Taiwan.
Both are honor graduates of the Indiana University School of Music, and both taught for 28 years at the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse and awarded given the title "Treasures of the University" upon their departure from that institution.
Their interest in the music education of young people led them to make several appearances on the "Captain Kangaroo" television program, and they continue to present workshops and master classes in the art of duet playing throughout the world. They have hosted an international "Four-Hand Fest" for duet enthusiasts every summer since 1980.
A Washington Post reviewer said Weekley and Arganbright "have the romantic touch and clearly like music with a big gesture. Both … played with bucketfuls of brio and spared no paprika. But they also played with quiet introspection … deliciously warm with long, rolling lines."
And Moscow's Izvestia commented regarding their visit to Russia: "It is good that they have come, for they have set a new standard for piano duet artistry toward which we must strive."
The duo will perform the same program Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 8 p.m. A "meet the artists" reception will be held following the Saturday evening performance in the Museum Store for season subscriber Patrons, Donors and Friends.
Main room seating is guaranteed for season subscribers and is open to those purchasing individual concert tickets based on availability. The surrounding rooms offer additional seating.
To obtain additional information or to purchase tickets, call 772-0598 or visit the St. Croix Landmarks Society Web site.
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