Lewisburg, W.Va. (WVDN) – Carnegie Hall will celebrate the triumphant finale of the fourth season of the Carnegie Classics Series on Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. with a spectacular performance featuring Steinway legend and 2023 West Virginia Music Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Nissman, conductor Maurice Cohn, and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. This highly anticipated concert brings the full symphony back to Carnegie Hall’s Hamilton Auditorium for an evening of exhilarating, soul‑nurturing music.
The program opens with a new work by acclaimed American composer Carlos Simon, followed by one of the most beloved works in the piano repertoire – Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor. Filled with sweeping melodies, fiery virtuosity, and emotional depth, the concerto has captivated audiences for generations; even Franz Liszt famously praised the piece after sight‑reading it during a visit with the young Grieg. Nissman shares that she is “so looking forward to working with conductor Maurice Cohn and to making music once again with my old friends at the WVSO. What a joyful event it will be for all of us, and we look forward to sharing great music with all of you.”
The evening concludes with Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, a monumental and deeply moving masterpiece that shows the orchestra’s expressive power and artistry. The performance marks the beginning of a three‑day musical journey, as Nissman and the WVSO continue to the Clay Center in Charleston on Saturday, May 2, and to Parkersburg on Sunday, May 3. Each venue promises its own unique experience – different hall, different acoustics, different piano – yet always the same commitment to sharing beautiful, joyful music.
Now in its fourth successful season, the Carnegie Classics Series is a three‑part concert initiative designed to welcome new listeners to classical music while continuing to inspire longtime enthusiasts. Through her warm storytelling and deep connection to the composers she calls her “friends,” Nissman makes classical music accessible, meaningful, and full of heart. No prior musical knowledge is required – just open ears and an open heart.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for students. Thanks to the Carnegie Cardinal Fund, Greenbrier County students (K–12) may attend free of charge, though reservations are still required.
For tickets or more information, visit www.carnegiehallwv.org, call 304‑645‑7917, or stop by 611 Church Street, Lewisburg, WV.
The Carnegie Classics Series is made possible with support from the James F.B. Peyton Fund, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Additional funding is provided by Eugene and Annie Jeffus.
Carnegie Hall WV is a nonprofit organization supported by individual contributions, grants, and fundraising efforts such as TOOT and The Carnegie Hall Gala.
