Local pianist Michael Brady will present a solo concert of works by German Romantic composers at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp, Washington on January 1 at 2 o’clock p.m. Admission by donation will benefit Room One, the Methow Valley’s health and social services center.

Between the irrational exuberance of Bach’s Organ Toccata in C (BWV 564) as recreated for the piano and the passion of Beethoven’s Appassionata sonata, the concert also includes Brahms’s quietly transcendent Three Intermezzos, opus 117, as well as Mr. Brady’s distinctive commentary.

“Unfortunately, I did not learn that ‘inauthentic’ piano transcriptions of Bach are now considered to be in the very worst of bad taste until it was way too late to do anything about it,” he explained about the opening piece, “Trying to conjure up the sonic majesty of a pipe organ out of a piano always seemed like a perfectly normal thing to try to do, but now it’s like the high-fructose corn syrup of classical music.”

Mr. Brady has given solo piano presentations annually in the Methow Valley for the last decade as a gift to friends, neighbors, and the community. “Because all of the donations will help stretch Room One’s resources that much further,” he says, “your generosity will collectively become the gift of a happier New Year for some of those among us here who really need it the most.”

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DATE: Friday, January 1, 2pm. TICKETS: Admission by donation. LOCATION: The Merc Playhouse. CONTACT/INFO: Michael Brady, 509.996.5002.