Rita Deanin Abbey Museum Performance Space

Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum Launches Concert Series with a Piano Duet by Dr. Alexandria Le and Philip Fortenberry

By Laura Henkel
Photography by Emiliano Palumbo/Tag Team Productions

Inside the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum on Oct. 11, the atmosphere was a harmony of light, form and sound, showcasing the work of one of Nevada’s most notable multidisciplinary artists. Within this stillness, RDA Performs, the museum’s first concert series, presented “Piano Portraits: A Piano Duet Dialogue,” featuring pianists Dr. Alexandria Le and Philip Fortenberry. It was more than a performance — it was an awakening. Two masters, four hands, seated at one piano, transformed the museum into a living dialogue between art, music and emotion.

Under Le’s direction, the program unfolded as a meditation on the life, art and legacy of Rita Deanin Abbey. Drawing inspiration from Abbey’s “Arches National Monument,” “Black Art” and “Rivertrip” series, the museum’s architectural design and the artist’s Jewish heritage, Le curated a performance that wove together abstraction and emotion, structure and spirit. Each piece was chosen to reflect the tension and harmony inherent in Abbey’s practice — her pursuit of beauty through contrast, her reverence for form and her devotion to creation.

The repertoire spanned centuries and styles, bridging classical traditions with contemporary innovation. Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5” in C minor and Mozart’s Papageno from “The Magic Flute” anchored the program in the canon’s timeless foundations, while Bach’s precision and György Kurtág’s “Játékok III” brought intimacy and experimentation to the fore. Kurtág’s work — performed by the composer and his wife, Márta, as a four-hand dialogue — echoed the creative and spiritual partnership between Abbey and her husband, Dr. Robert Rock Belliveau, whose collaboration continues to resonate through the museum’s sculptural architecture.

In contrast, Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture from Candide” and John Adams’ “Short Ride in a Fast Machine” energized the gallery, mirroring Abbey’s dynamic use of motion and space. Melanie “Mel” Bonis’ “Six Valses-Caprices” provided a lyrical counterpoint. Bonis, who published under the name Mel to conceal her gender in an era that dismissed women composers, embodied the same quiet defiance that defined Abbey’s career. Both artists broke expectations in male-dominated fields, their work marked by intelligence, resilience and grace.

The result was a program that felt both timeless and immediate — a seamless conversation between eras, aesthetics and souls. Le and Fortenberry performed with breathtaking unity, as if sharing one breath. Two artists danced across the keys, weaving sound into movement, gesture and devotion. Their coordination was acrobatic in its precision, Cirque-like in dexterity, yet imbued with warmth and tenderness. Every note, pause and shared glance carried meaning. The audience sat suspended, not as passive listeners but as witnesses to art coming alive.

Offstage, Le is a Yamaha Artist and Juilliard fellow, celebrated internationally for her artistry and advocacy. As president of Notes with a Purpose, she expands access to transformative musical experiences, guided by the belief that music can change lives.

Fortenberry’s career spans Broadway, concert halls and film. He has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the White House. A recipient of the Ghostlight Award as Best Musician on Broadway, he also served as a hand and body double for Michael Douglas in “Behind the Candelabra,” a testament to his skill and nuance at the keyboard.

The evening’s setting added to its impact — the museum and private residence of Abbey, one of Nevada’s most fearless and imaginative artists. Much like Abbey’s creations, “Piano Portraits” blurred boundaries between mediums, inviting audiences to experience how art, architecture and music together can illuminate the human spirit.

As the final notes faded in the gallery, it was easy to imagine Abbey herself listening, smiling and perhaps moving gently with the rhythm of her legacy. For those in attendance, it was more than a concert — it was communion. Another opportunity to experience RDA Performs comes with “Broadway Reimagined: A Chamber Music Tribute,” on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit the Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum website.