FARMINGON — The Arts Institute of Western Maine is pleased to present internationally renowned pianist Dr. Laura Kargul, USM, in recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at University of Maine-Farmington Nordica Auditorium.

The unique feature of the program will be the American premiere of the Cesar Franck piano composition “Souvenirs d’Aix-la-Chapelle,” recently discovered and now available to the public. A unique work, even to Franck devotees, it is based on variation technique, chorale tunes and pedal points, and shows not only the influence of such virtuosic writing as in the works of Liszt, but also anticipates the colorful “impressionist” direction of Debussy and Ravel 50 years later.

Additionally the program will be devoted to the genius of variation technique in transcribing operatic themes for the piano. The Wolfgang Mozart ten-variation composition on the Gluck aria “Unser dummer Pöbel meint” show him at his dazzling keyboard best, while the Franz Liszt transcription of themes from Bellini’s “Norma” represents the absolute pinnacle of technical virtuosity in piano writing. The remainder of the program will pay tribute to this year’s 200th anniversary of the birth of Felix Mendelssohn.

Nordica Auditorium is in Merrill Hall, Main and Academy streets in Farmington. No advance ticket sales. Cash admission at the door: adults $8, seniors $7, free for children under 16 and UMF students. For information, call 491-0768.