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International Profile of Teresa Walters – Fall 2023 Teresa Walters: An International Profile – Fall 2023
“Pianist Teresa Walters stepped into a gilded, grand salon in Zurich to perform for the Liszt Society of Switzerland last Spring. She descended an elegant staircase and threaded her way carefully through the packed salon. Patrons sat shoulder to shoulder, waiting to hear Walters’s specialty – the spiritual compositions of the 19th century Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. Inspired by the composer’s deep Catholic faith, these works were largely ignored by musicians more attuned to Liszt’s huge inventory of flamboyant secular compositions. But they have become a passion for Walters whose discography of these works has recently become available on You Tube. The Zurich concert was a rare opportunity for a concert pianist accustomed to playing in large halls. “Exactly the intimate setting in which 19th century pianists like Liszt performed,” she said. What particularly pleased her was the review, which declared that Walters had invoked the very presence of Liszt in that intimate setting. High praise indeed for the daughter of Nebraska farmers, whose musical odyssey has taken her from the cornfields and church choirs of her youth to the greatest concert halls of the world. The first thing you notice about Teresa Walters is her striking looks – she is tall, with flowing blond hair that hangs down to a willowy waist. Despite the fact that she lives halfway across the U.S., Walters’s mother created all her designer concert gowns from fabrics found in New York’s garment district - gorgeous lace and velvet and beaded creations, including a dramatic black and white “mirror image” dress, which garnered attention in several reviews. Her size and strength, especially her large hands, with her long fingers, gives an advantage over most concert pianists. Liszt’s compositions require a wide finger span and great stamina. “I once put my hands on top of a cast of Liszt’s hands in Budapest. And we’re close. Very close.”
The decision to mine the largely unexplored and extensive canon of Liszt’s spiritual music has propelled Teresa Walters through doors she never dreamed of. She has performed these works to glowing reviews in the U.S., Europe, South America, Australia and Asia. The Japanese audiences connected with the music, especially “The Hymn of Night,” which they associated with their own popular Moon Rising celebrations. “I find that this music is well-received in every country. It has universal appeal. My dream is to perform it in every country of the world in my lifetime.” City of Geneva Invites American Pianist Teresa Walters
“Musique et Vie warmly welcomes internationally acclaimed concert pianist Teresa Walters scheduled to perform Tuesday, August 8 for the city of Geneva’s prestigious Summer Festival Series. Walters will perform music by César Franck, Liszt, Glinka, and Balakirev. The concert features the artist’s popular “Keynote Comments” to enhance the music. Dr. Walters will address the audience in both French and English. Musique et Vie was founded in 1983 by Argentine pianist Miguel Angel Estrella to promote human rights, youth and peace through music. It encourages and supports musical culture among the underprivileged in Switzerland and abroad. After 17 seasons of Summer Concerts in collaboration with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum, Musique et Vie now organizes these summer concerts independently at the venue Concerts d’ete en Vielle-Ville with its central location and excellent acoustics. Teresa Walters is hailed as “one of the world’s most significant pianists” by Austrian National Television. She is recognized as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of the music of Franz Liszt. Her prestigious invitations to perform in honor of the Liszt Bicentennial included Copenhagen’s Hungarian Embassy and Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall. The Budapest Sun writes: “Her fingers give off sparks and she takes the keyboard into orbit.” The Washington Post headline reads: “Her Hands Create Cascades of Luminescence.” Teresa Walters is noted for her commitment to music as the ultimate universal language and for her vision of music as ministry. She writes: “I have always believed in the artist’s responsibility to make the world a better place. I applaud the choice of Season 2023 to support the Music for Social Change program in Lebanon.” CONCERT with TERESA WALTERS
“The American Church in Berlin cordially invites the wider Berlin Schöneberg community to attend what is sure to be an amazing concert with internationally renowned pianist, Teresa Walters at the ACB Church, Bülowstrasse at Dennewitzplatz on Saturday, April 29th at 7 p.m. From British Columbia to Beijing, Teresa Walters has thrilled audiences at venues across the world. Austrian National Television calls Teresa Walters “one of the world’s most significant pianists.” The American Record Guide wrote of her: “Walters’s competition is virtually nil.” She is the first American pianist invited to present three anniversary concerts in honor of Liszt’s birthday with back to back performances at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music and the Liszt Museum in Budapest, Liszt’s Birthplace in Raiding, and at Esterhazy Palace under the patronage of Prince Anton Esterhazy. Teresa Walters earned her doctorate from Peabody Conservatory and lived abroad for study at the Paris Conservatoire and dissertation research. After growing up in the Midwest which she calls “America’s heartland,” this world citizen has made the New York area her home. This promises to be a great evening at the American Church in Berlin. Teresa Walters will perform music by various Romantic composers. In a combination of German and English, she will also address the audience in her acclaimed Keynote Comments. The audience will have the added opportunity to meet and greet the artist at a reception immediately following.” World-Renowned Pianist Launches Centennial Celebration
“In preparation for its Centennial Anniversary, St. Johns Church presents renowned concert pianist Teresa Walters on Friday, April 14 at 7 P.M. Walters is described as “The International First Lady of Piano” by the New York Times. The concert is part of a season with three scheduled European tours. Walters says, “I feel blessed to be able to tour internationally again after the limitations of pandemic restrictions.” One of the world’s most celebrated pianists, Teresa Walters has performed as a recitalist and orchestral soloist on six continents and in all 50 United States. She has earned glowing reviews at such venues as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, Moscow’s Great Hall and Vienna’s Beethoven Festival. Her recordings have received nominations for the Grand Prix du Disque of the Hungarian Liszt Society. She will perform works by various Romantic composers. Her extensive repertoire includes the lesser known sacred piano works of Liszt. She was a pioneer in performing these works onstage. Her prize-winning recordings of Liszt’s works have recently become available on You Tube. In a recent interview, she stated: “Liszt had generosity of artistic temperament and spirit. That’s something I strive for now in everything I do.” Renowned Pianist Teresa Walters Inaugurates Morningside Salon Series
“Internationally acclaimed pianist Teresa Walters has accomplished three celebrated international tours this year with another on the horizon. In an intimate change of pace, a distinguished select audience of patrons will have the opportunity to hear her perform here in the New York area in November. Attendance for the event is by registered invitation only and will be held in the salon of a historic mansion once home to the founders of the Wall Street Journal and financiers of Dow and Jones. In a telephone interview, she noted, “European audiences have long enjoyed an illustrious tradition of Salon Recitals by history’s most famous pianists – Chopin and Liszt among them. I look forward to sharing some of the world’s best-loved piano music in this elegant American historical setting with its superb acoustics and magnificent golden-age piano.” As a Steinway Artist, Teresa Walters will perform on a vintage Steinway D for the event. Widely recognized as one of the world’s premiere pianists, her biography could be written from headlines alone: “Teresa Walters Plays Piano on Grand Scale” (The Cincinnati Inquirer); “Her Hands Create Cascades of Luminescence” (The Washington Post); “A Liszt of Very Fine Performances” (The Budapest Sun); “Bright Shining Star in Recital” (El Norte, Mexico); “Teresa Walters Holds Keys to Audience’s Hearts” (The Record); “Teresa Walters – Much to Admire” (The New York Times). Walters hails the American Midwest before earning her Doctorate at Peabody Conservatory and making her adult home in the New York City area. She began touring internationally during her years as a graduate student. Her musical exploits have taken her to six continents and all 50 states. Asked to name her favorite country and place to perform, she replied, “Wherever I am performing at the time.” She continued, “Sometimes I feel as though I have performed in every country where a grand piano can be found and tuned. And I have performed in many countries and world capitals multiple times. It would be easier to list where I have not yet played.” Still on her to-do list, she said, is South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland. A Champagne Reception for patrons will follow.
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In many ways, Walters feels she was destined to play Liszt’s spiritual works. His sacred works, which came much later in his career, were an enigma to most concert musicians, who found them too flamboyant for church, but too religious for a secular concert series. “I have gained a reverence and understanding of how his personal Faith played such a part in his spiritual works,” she said. “I feel as if I’m being led. That I’m taking a journey, and it’s in higher hands.” 
