Written by Donna S. Dreeland
on so many levels, he said, all while connecting audiences of all ages. The music ties them together. In the early years of the 20th century, theaters had full orchestras to accompany the films they featured, he said.
“That is how it was way back then. Only the dive-iest of theaters had just the piano.”
Maggie Forbes, executive director of the Carnegie institution, was pleased when Roberts brought his performance idea to her. Roberts was “an excellent jazz pianist,” she said, and the chamber music series was perfect for his two-person ensemble.
“I liked the edginess of it,” she said, “and it could attract a range of people, film buffs and music buffs.”
The music hall on the hill always held an attraction for him.
“I wanted to get in there with something,” he said. “It’s an opulent theater.”
Dona S. Dreeland is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-388-5803 or ddreeland@tribweb.com.