CPTV Hosts Screening and Performance Event with Hartford’s Albert Hurwit at the Wadsworth Atheneum

CPTV Hosts Screening and Performance Event with Hartford’s Albert Hurwit at the Wadsworth Atheneum

-- Featuring World Premiere of PBS Special Lifecasters and Performance of “Remembrance” by Members of the

Hartford Symphony Orchestra Directed by Michael Lankester --

Monday, February 4 at 7 p.m.   

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main Street, Hartford

Tickets: $50 by calling (860) 275-7335 or emailing events@cptv.org

Connecticut Public Television (CPTV) is proud to host a very special evening celebrating the life and music of Hartford’s Albert “Alby” Hurwit.

 On Monday, February 4 at 7 p.m., CPTV will present an exclusive screening and performance event at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford. The night will begin with a world premiere screening of a portion of the new PBS national special, Lifecasters. The TV special – made up of three independent films about Americans who have all discovered creative ways of realizing their dreams – contains one film called “The Gambling Man” about the life of Alby Hurwit and his lifelong pursuit of music. Attendees will get a sneak peek at the film before the national premiere of Lifecasters on Thursday, February 7 at 9 p.m., airing locally on CPTV.

Following the screening, eminent conductor, arranger and commentator Michael Lankester will lead an illustrated talk about Hurwit’s piece “Remembrance”, the third movement of his award-winning Symphony No. 1. Lankester will highlight and explain key components of the musical composition with members of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra performing segments as an illustration. Then attendees will enjoy a full performance of the world premiere arrangement of “Remembrance” for string septet performed by members of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra (including HSO Concertmaster and First Violinist Leonid Sigal) and conducted by Michael Lankester.

Light hors d’oeuvres and wine will be provided.

Tickets are $50 a person and seating is limited. To attend, please send an email to events@cptv.org or by calling 860-275-7335. 

Except for a few years in his childhood as an unremarkable piano student, Hurwit has had no formal musical training. He is a graduate of Harvard and Tufts Medical School.

In 1986, Dr. Hurwit left a fulfilling medical career in order to pursue his dream of composing music. Using the technology of computers, software programs and synthesizers, he has been able to translate the music in his head into audible and written compositions. The result was his award-winning Symphony No. 1, a piece which won the 2009 American Composer Competition which has been performed in the U.S. and internationally. On February 6, composer Albert Hurwit will be honored at an event at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts recognizing his achievement and the national PBS premiere of Lifecasters.

CPTV is proud to honor the accomplishments and music of Albert Hurwit, proving it is never too old to dream.