Pianist David Allen Wehr and Piazzolla’s ‘History of the Tango’

Spring will be in full musical bloom on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 2:00 PM  – as international piano laureate David Allen Wehr returns with a program of solo piano music by Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Gershwin, and chamber music featuring Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra flutist Rhian Kenny and virtuoso guitarist John Marcinizyn performing Astor Piazzolla’s popular flute and guitar duo “The History of the Tango”.

David will be joined by Rhian Kenny, Pittsburgh Symphony Principal Piccolo and Flute, in Francis Poulenc’s Sonata for Flute and Piano. Written in the middle of the twentieth century (1957), the sonata has the delightful contrasts of Poulenc’s sensuousness in one moment and innocence in the next – elegance and virtuosity – charm and melancholy …  perfect for a beautiful Spring day.

Ending the program is Astor Piazzolla’s flute and guitar duo The History of the Tango (1985) that chronicles in four movements the evolution of the tango from a lively dance style into a serious concert music form.

From its origin in 1900 in the brothels of Buenos Aires to the 1930s cafe life and nightclub music of 1960, with a fusion of the Brazilian Bossa Nova, the last movement of The History of Tango is a ‘nuevo tango’ that combines elements of jazz and classical music.

Adults $25, ARCA Members discount $20, Students FREE – with parents receiving the Member’s discount.  Buy online at alleghenyriverstone.org or call 724-659-3153 to reserve with cash or check at the door.

David Allen Wehr’s concert is ARCA’s 2026 FOUNDERS’ CONCERT honoring the memory of its recently deceased founding President, Dr. Arthur Steffee, and Secretary – Treasurer, Patricia Ann Steffee, who admired Wehr’s piano and chamber music performances and entertained him in their homes with concert attendees after concerts. Other recently deceased founders we honor are Arch Newton, Jae Ann Brown, Sue and Jerry Peairs, and Lou Kalinowksi. We are grateful that Andor Paposi-Jobb, who curated the original Lincoln Hall stage backdrop when it was found rolled up during the renovation, is still with us.

A favorite of Foxburg audiences, David Allen Wehr brings this popular program from his sold-out Music on the Bluff Series at The Mary Pappert School of Music and will serve as the host for the concert, providing enlightening insights on the music and composers.

Rhian Kenny joined the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1990 as principal piccolo.  She holds the Frank & Loti Gaffney Chair. Active in the orchestra’s education and outreach programs, she speaks often to groups throughout the Pittsburgh region. Kenny pays it forward by teaching the next generation and by chairing the Musicians Care Fund with the mission to provide access to great music for every child in our region.

Kenny was born in Benghazi, Libya, and grew up in Calgary, Canada, where she began her flute studies at the age of nine.  She continued her studies with Timothy Hutchins at McGill University in Montréal and received a bachelor’s degree in music.

Pittsburgh-based guitarist, composer, banjoist John Marcinizyn performs as a soloist, with the Ferla-Marcinizyn Guitar Duo, contralto Daphne Alderson, flute and guitar duo, violin and guitar duo, and groups ranging from The Bach Choir of Pittsburgh to Billy Price. He is also a member of Acoustic Swing (jazz trio) and The Red Hot Ramblers (Dixieland jazz). His versatility as an acoustic and electric guitarist allows him to perform in many styles, including classical, jazz, flamenco, rock, blues, and folk. John has also performed for many theater companies, including Quantum Theatre, where he wrote and performed a flamenco score for The Red Shoes and a Blues score for El Paso Blue.

After the concert, plan to meet the artists and enjoy a wine and cheese reception from 4 to 6 PM for the opening exhibit of the 2026 Red Brick Gallery season: Charlie Platt Earthenware Ceramics and Jason Floyd Lewis, Drawings and Paintings: Two artists working in distinct media, concurrently inspired by the waterways and landscape of Western Pennsylvania.