Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 27

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2001 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Mutter It cancels Pianist Kissin pulls plug on his portion of WQED's live PSO radio broadcast PSG dates By Andrew Druckenbrod Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic To patrons at the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concert last Friday, pianist Evgeny Kissin's second-half performance of Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 was the cap on an emotional and dramatic night. Not only had the first half of the program been changed to reflect the tragedies of last week, but music director Mariss Jansons had arrived at Heinz Hall just in time to run through the pieces and put on his tuxedo. But to those listening to the performance live on WQED-FM, a practice the radio station does for each PSO opener, it was a different story. Five minutes before the start of the second half, on-site WQED personnel were informed by the PSO that Kissin had not given permission to broadcast his performance, forcing the station to return to regular programming.

The pullout has WQED frustrated and listeners upset. "We regret that we are not able to offer the rest of the concert because Mr. Kissin was concerned about the quality of the performance," Jim Cunningham, WQED-FM station manager, said he told the on-air audience. "He did an interview earlier and we had every indication that he was going to go through with it," Cunningham said yesterday. He also said he has received several e-mails and calls expressing astonishment and regret about the pullout.

"According to Arbitron ratings, 10,000 people tuned in for the concert," he said. Kissin was unavailable for comment yesterday, but his manager, Edna Landau, said the pianist had felt uncomfortable about being broadcast with only one makeshift rehearsal. "It was an unnerving and unrattling day," she said. "I have never known Mr. Kissin to go into a performance without adequate rehearsal." Landau insists, however, that Kissin did not withdraw permission at the last minute.

"I informed the symphony at 3 p.m. that Kissin was going to not allow it," she said. The orchestra told WQED that the broadcast was in question, but admittedly failed to inform it that it was definitely off later in the evening. "This is where we messed up," said PSO spokeswoman Jody Do-herty. "We knew at 8:15 p.m.

that he was uncomfortable with it being broadcast live because of lack of rehearsal and performing with the orchestra and Jansons for the first time, but just didn't get the information to 'QED in all the confusion." Despite the lack of a live broadcast, all three season-opening concerts were recorded and will be edited to one concert that will be distributed on Public Radio International. "We hope that Kissin will allow it," said Cunningham. The PSO expects that will be that case. "They were still recorded and will be broadcast," Doherty said. "I think the fellow was missing the point," said Judi Cannava, who was the producer on site for the live broadcast.

"Nobody was expecting a note-perfect concert." But Landau urged Pittsburghers to not judge Kissin too harshly He did show up for the concert, driving instead of flying from New York, in a time when many artists were' simply canceling appearances. "We didn't know how the roads would be," she said. "If there was a way to get there by driving, that was what he was going to do." Kissin truly was anxious about the performance and removing the live broadcast took "one level of pressure away." "It was an absolutely frazzling day," Landau said. "I think' people should understand that this was not a normal time. Every artist isdiffer-ent and we need to respetf -what they each need to feel able to perform." However, with the PSO musicians willing to go on with the Kissin's concerns are lost on some.

"The tragedy of the Concert, which pales to the real tragedy, is that we were looking forward. the second half for a little brightening of the mood, and the radio audience didn't get that," said Cannava, Violinist 'Anne-Sophie Mutter has canceled her Sept. 28 and 29 performances with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. "In a time of such desperate uncertainty, Ms: Mutter, a widow, feels her prime obligation is to be at home with her two children," said her manager at Columbia Artists Management in a statement. Her children are ages 7 and 11.

6 Mutter of Germany was to have performed Beethoven's Violin Concerto. "We understand her reasons in this climate and will discuss in the coming days what we will do in her absence," said PSO spokeswoman Jody Doher-ty. Mutter also canceled her appearance at the season-opening concert of the New York Philharmonic Thursday. That concert has now been labeled a memorial Anne-Sophie Mutter Staying close to home concert with net proceeds going to World Trade Center disaster relief. "She expresses her deepest sympathy to the people of New York and the United States, and her personal regrets to Maestro Mariss Jansons, the musicians and audience members of the Pittsburgh Symphony," her statement continued.

"She hopes for a clearer future in which she may return to make music in the cities she loves." Andrew Druckenbrod, Post-Gazette Classical Music Critic Weddings Engagements Anniversaries a To place an ad, call 412-263-1236 or toll free, 1 800 242 Birth Announcements Personal Greetings 1 692, ext. 1 236, or e-mail at TJ Get your copy of the new PG Bridal Planner! Call (412) 263-1708 or log on to our Web site at www.post-gazette.combridal. PittsbunjI J)ost-6azctteA ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS ELIZABETH ELLEN GRAFF Elizabeth Graff, daughterbf John and Kathy Graff, graduated with distinction from Penn State University, main campus, with a bachelor of arts degree in public relations and advertising. Beth has been accepted for fall admission to the University of Maryland Law School, Baltimore, Md. She is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and a 1997 Vincentidff High School graduate.

4 ANNIVERSARIES MALONEY, JIM and MARY James P. and Mary A. (Brown) Moloney will be celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary this Saturday, and a dinner party with family and friends to mark this special occasion will be held at their home in Allison Park. They were united in marriage on September 22, 1951, at St. Paul's Cathedral, Oakland.

Mary and Jim grew up in Oakland where Mary attended Cathedral High School. Jim attended Central Catholic and subsequently the University of Pittsburgh where he played football. Together they raised seven children, the late James Moloney, Meg Moloney of Canandaigua, N.Y., Barbara Moloney of Scottsdale, Erin Moloney of Pittsburgh, Michael Moloney of Long Island, Maine, John Moloney of Allison Park, and Patrick Moloney of Shadyside. Their grandchildren are James Moloney IV and Devon Watters. PERSONAL CELEBRATIONS ANNIVERSARIES Del PERCIO, MEL and MARY 50th Anniversary AAelio tind Mary E.

(Diethorn) Del Percio were married on September 15, 195Cin St. George's Church, Allentown. Diane and Mel Jr. are their children, and Toni Ann, Michael, Bill, Ejysa, and Jessie are their grandchildren. PERSONAL CELEBRATIONS Yj1 (t ft I I i ANNIVERSARIES NOW THEN VELMER, SAMUEL and GERALDINE Samuel Velmer and Geraldine Velmer recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on July 14, 2001, at the Monongahela Country Club with family and friends.

The party was given by their children, Gerald Velmer of Bridgewa-ter, N.J., Doreen Rolince of Attle-boro, Marc Velmer of Evans-ville, and Kelly Armstrong of South Park, Pa. Sam Velmer and the former Geraldine Hindman were married with a traditional Orthodox Ceremony at St. George Serbian Church in Pittsburgh. They renewed their vows on the same date 50 years later at First Bethel United Methodist Church. Mr.

Velmer served in the Navy during WWII in the Atlantic and South Pacific theaters. He retired from General Motors, Fisher Body. Mrs. Velmer has been a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Together they exemplify all that is noble from the "Greatest Generation." ji ANNIVERSARIES HOCKMAN, HOWARD M.

JR. and BETTY ANN Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Hock-man Jr.

of Scott recently celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with a dinner party in Whitehall given by their children, Debra Sites, Nancy Kelley, and William Hock-man. Howard and the former Betty Ann Griffin were married Septembers, 1951, in Stewart Avenue Lutheran Church, Carrick. Mr. Hock-man is a retired, self-employed businessman. The Hockmans have four grandchildren.

MILLS 50 YEARS DOROTHY FRANCES FIEDLER and ROBERT MASON MILLS Dot and Bob will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary on September 22, 2001 They were married at Saint Mark's Methodist Church in Rockville Centre, N.Y., and honeymooned at Split Rock Lodge in the Poconos. Both are 1951 graduates of Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa. The Mills have resided in Peters Township since 1954 where they raised three children, Rob, Kathy, and Tom. Bob served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWI I as a Second Lieutenant bomber pilot.

He retired from the advertising department of U.S Steel and was active in local Hunter's Safety programs. Dot retired as the Peters Township Planning Director and was active in the League of Women Voters before joining the township government. They continue to love to travel, enioy nature, and the great out-of-doors. The couple will be celebrating their anniversary with their children in Rocky Mountain National Park during a 10-day Colorado vacation. It' 1 VA 1 4 ANNIVERSARIES NOW FISCHER, FRED and DOTTIE Fred and Dottie (Kumpfmiller) Fischer of Shaler Township will celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary on September 18, 2001.

They were married in Cumberland, in 1941 with Herb and Rose Fischer at their side. The Fischers are the parents of Mrs. Robert Drwal (Jan) and Mr. Fred Fischer Jr. Rebecca Ruff, Heidi Drwal, Amanda Fischer, and Crystal Fischer are their grandchildren, and Justin and Alexis Ruff are their great-grandchildren.

Fred is a retired chemist from Armco Steel, and Dottie is a retired baker from Kaufmann's. They are long-time active members of the First Congregational Church of Etna. 60 Years and Still in Love SCHEUERING, GEORGE and BERNICE George Scheuering and the former Bernice Giegucz, married on September 18, 1951, at St. Catherine Church, Beechview, have celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. On September 16, 2001, a blessing service was held at St.

Pius Church, Brookline. Since George's retirement from Equitable Resources, the Scheuerings enioy traveling and spending time with family. George and Bernice, who reside in Brookline, are the parents of Diane of Erie, George, Janet DelRaso, Cathy Schwartzmiller and Mary Beth Abbiatici, all of Pittsburgh, and JoAnne Newcombof Knoxville, and have four grandchildren. THEN Al 1 ls- i. J.

Celebrate your good news with Western Pennsylvania. Make your announcement in "Celebration!" published every Tuesday in the Post-Gazette. For more information, call (412) 263-1236. CLASSIFIEDS i LOCAL YOUTH WINS TOP HONORS AT NATIONAL DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS Megan Zammerilla of Jefferson Hills captured two national dance titles and high score awards while competing her award-winning iazz routine "Hound Dog" this summer. In June Megan competed at the Kids Artistic vue National Dance Finals in Columbus, Ohio, and was crowned "Miss Petite Dance America 2001." She was also awarded 1st place high score soloist in the secondary division.

Megan was selected as a "Kids Artistic Revue All Star Kid" and toured and danced in New York City this summer as part of this exceptional' group. In July Megan also attended the 2001 Starpower World Championship in Ocean City, Md. There she was crowned "Petite Miss Starpower 2001" and once again was named 1st place high score soloist i in the eight and under division. Megan has also won numerous titles and high score awards at regional competitions throughout the year. She studies i dance at the Academy of Dance under the direction of Ms.

Lori Javornick and is a third-grade student at St. Elizabeth Elementary School in Pleasant email:.