Sponsored by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society, world-renowned pianist and Chopin scholar Dr. George Halverson Fiore will perform a special recital of Chopin's music on Saturday June 12, at 8 p.m., in honor of the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth.

Frederic Francois Chopin, the genius Polish composer and pianist, was born in 1810.Jim Thorpe joins the worldwide birthday tribute with this special benefit concert. This event will support the many improvements underway at Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe.Complementing the brilliance of Maestro Fiore's playing is his ability to bring to life the story of Chopin whose music he has performed at many venues throughout the Pacific Northwest. Humor and virtuosity coexist as hallmarks of this concert pianist's repertoire.Perhaps Dr. Fiore is best known to the Seattle community in his role as chorus-master of the Seattle Opera, a position he held for sixteen years.In the summer of 2000, he was appointed Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony for Choral Activities, a role which has won him much acclaim.As a concert pianist, Dr. Fiore has performed as soloist with the Seattle Symphony in Saint-Saens Third Piano Concerto. He has been heard as soloist with the Bellevue Philharmonic, Federal Way Philharmonic, Thalia Symphony, and Cascade Symphony in all five Beethoven concertos, the two Chopin concertos, and the Schumann piano concerto. In his role as a conductor, Fiore has guest conducted the Seattle Symphony Choral in Verdi's Requiem and Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe.Dr. Fiore will perform on the Historical Society's "resident" piano, an 1898 Chickering Grand Piano which resides at the Opera House. He is therefore able to perform the concert with an especially authentic flair. Liszt played Chopin on a similar instrument.This is a rare chance to hear Chopin's music on an instrument produced closer to his lifetime.Doors for this concert open at 7 p.m.To reserve tickets by phone, or for more information, call (570) 325-0249. Tickets can also be conveniently purchased on-line at: mauchchunkoperahouse.com.