FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2004

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Two celebrated musicians, violinist Eric Grossman and pianist Lowell Liebermann will perform with Metropolitan Classical Ballet on Monday evening, October 11th at the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth when the company presents the second program of the season, Romantic Evening of Ballet. Mr. Grossman and Mr. Liebermann, both graduates of Juilliard School of Music in New York, will provide accompaniment for Paul Mejia's world premiere ballet, D Minor Sonata, music by Camille Saint-Saëns. Mr. Grossman, along with other musicians, will also play for George Balanchine's Who Cares?

Eric Grossman has been hailed for his flawless technique, superb musicianship and commitment to a wide range of repertoire. In March 2002, he presented the New York premiere of Lowell Liebermann's concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet. In addition, he has performed and recorded Liebermann's Violin Sonata with the composer. Mr. Grossman has performed many concerts and master classes in Cuba, with the Orquestra Sinfonica National de Cuba. Other recent engagements for Mr. Grossman included a June 2002 New York recital, his fifth concert tour of Korea, his European recital debut at the Arco Festival in France, and a performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Lima Symphony that was hailed by the Lima News as "astounding".

As a chamber musician, Eric Grossman has collaborated with many distinguished artists, and as Artistic Director of the Cosmopolitan Chamber Players, he oversees an annual concert series at Merkin Concert Hall in New York. He has performed in the Marlboro Music Festival and played numerous tours including a European Tour and the 40th Anniversary concert of "Music from Marlboro" at Carnegie Hall.

This marks the third time Mr. Grossman will have performed with Metropolitan Classical Ballet, He twice performed as soloist for Paul Mejia's Spanish Dances by Sarasate.

Lowell Liebermann, considered to be one of todays most frequently performed and commissioned composers, maintains an active performing schedule as pianist and conductor. Orchestras worldwide have championed his works. He made his performing debut at Carnegie Recital Hall at the age of sixteen, playing his Piano Sonata, Op.1, which he composed when he was fifteen. He holds bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from the Juilliard School of Music. Among his many awards is a Charles Ives Fellowship from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

In addition to his recent position as Composer-in-Residence to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Liebermann filled the same role for Sapporo's Pacific Music Festival and for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. In 2001 Mr. Liebermann was awarded the first American Composers' Invitational Award by the 11th Van Cliburn Competition after the majority of finalists chose to perform his Three Impromptus, which were selected from works submitted by forty-two contemporary composers. In an interview with newscaster Sam Donaldson, Van Cliburn himself described Mr. Liebermann as "a wonderful pianist and a fabulous composer." Upcoming premieres include his second full-length opera, Miss Lonelyhearts, to a libretto by J D McClatchy based on the novel by Nathanael West, commissioned by the Juilliard School to celebrate their hundredth anniversary. The premiere will take place at Lincoln Center in May of 2006.

In addition to Paul Mejia's world premiere D Minor Sonata, and George Balanchine's Who Cares?, there will be another world premiere on the program. Edith Piaf, a ballet by Eddy Toussaint, will be set to lyrics by Edith Piaf, Andre Gagnon and others.

Tickets are available through Bass Performance Hall Ticket Office at (817) 212-4280; toll free at (877) 212-4280, or on the web at www.basshall.com.

Call Metropolitan Classical Ballet's administrative office at (817) 465-4644 to inquire about season subscriptions and tickets to the December production of The Nutcracker to be held at Texas Hall on the University of Texas campus in Arlington. Tickets to The Nutcracker will also be sold at the administration office located at 500 West Abram Street in Arlington.

Season sponsors include American Airlines, WRR Classical 101, and the law firm of Hill Gilstrap.

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Media Note: Further information, interviews and photos may be obtained by contacting Judy Puder at (817) 465-4644.

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