(bright etheric music) (enchanting classical piano music) - [Announcer] Coming up this week on "Expressions," a classic recital featuring pianist, Michael Davidman.

- [Announcer] Funding for this program is provided in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(audience applauds) - Hello and welcome to "Expressions."

I'm your host, Adara Alston.

For this episode, we are going back to 2013 for a recital from Michael Davidman.

This talented pianist was attending the Manhattan School of Music, was only 16 years old when he took the stage for this performance.

Since then, Michael earned a master's of music degree from the prestigious Juilliard School, and in 2025 won the top prize at the American Piano Awards.

Currently, Michael is in Europe continuing his studies.

And we talked to him in 2013 about his first musical memories.

- My family has been in music for a really long time.

My mom's side, her mom was an opera singer.

Her mom was an opera singer.

My dad, my dad (indistinct), they all loved to play the piano.

(lively piano music) So my mom decided when I was about five and a half, six to give me piano lessons.

We found a teacher and I just started playing.

It was just something that I sort of did, just like I did any other activity, like going to school or whatever.

I just did that.

That was part of my life.

And eventually I started to sound good.

("Prelude and Fugue No.

3 in C-Sharp Major") ("Prelude and Fugue No.

3 in C-Sharp Major" continues) ("Concert Paraphrase on Rigoletto, S.343") (audience cheers and applauds) I chose the A-flat major waltz 'cause it's my favorite one.

When I play this, I feel like I'm there where Chopin was writing it.

Like, I feel like I'm in the salon with all the women in like the white, like very, you know, that type of thing.

I feel like I'm there when I play that.

("Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op.

69, No.

1") ("La Campanella") (audience applauds) My main goal as a pianist is not to, you know, give a textbook performance of a piece, you know, and please, you know this one, and please that one.

I don't really care about that.

I care about the people coming to see it 'cause they're paying, that's the first thing.

And I want them to get their money's worth, and I also want them to walk away from the concert feeling fulfilled and having great enjoyment.

That's why I do this.

("Hungarian Rhapsody No.

2") (audience cheers and applauds) - Michael Davidman with the performance of Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody No.

2" here on "Expressions."

That will be all the time we have for this week's episode.

But a reminder, you can visit wskg.org/expressions to see more of Michael's recital.

If you would like to keep up with Michael's career, you can do so by visiting his website, michaeldavidman.com.

Thanks so much for watching "Expressions."

Until next time, this is Adara Alston.

Goodnight.

(lively classical piano music)