Russian Reflections II

an enchanting musical evening of RUSSIAN REFLECTIONS II - a special sequel to our Russian Reflections I program from a month ago, featuring some of the most gorgeous masterworks by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Glazunov, Medtner, and Stravinsky. Our all-Russian program will open with Rachmaninoff's hauntingly beautiful Romance in D minor for violin and piano, op. 6 (1893) from his 2 Morceaux de salon - his youthful, one-and-only work for violin and piano composed when he was just 20 years old. As a foil to Rachmaninoff's dark and brooding Romance, Alexander Glazunov's sunny and ruminative Meditation in D Major for violin and piano, op. 32 (1891) is full of soaring lyricism, based throughout on the Romantic theme heard at the outset and originally intended for an intimate salon setting, such as you will enjoy this evening. Following in the footsteps of Rachmaninoff and Glazunov, an esteemed fellow Russian composer and pianist, Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) composed three hefty Violin Sonatas, of which his alluring and seldom-played Violin Sonata No. 1 in B minor, op. 21 (1909-10) is cast in three picturesque movements - Canzona, Danza, and Ditirambo - that reveal Medtner's innate gift for melodic lyricism, modal harmonies, rigorous thematic development, and complex counterpoint as well as his extra-musical fascination with the myth of Dionysus (the God of wine). The second half of our all-Russian program will open with Tchaikovsky's wistful Serenade melancolique, op. 26 (1875), originally his first work for violin and orchestra, in the poignant arrangment for violin and piano, juxtaposed alongside its emotional opposite - the cheerful and witty Humoreske from Deux Morceaux, op. 10 (1870), originally written for solo piano. Tchaikovsky's Humoreske, in turn, served as a creative springboard for Igor Stravinsky's festive Divertimento for violin and piano (1932) - a brilliant violin-piano arrangment in four movements of Stravinsky's ballet, Le baiser de la fee (1928), in which Stravinsky quotes the folklike melody of Tchaikovsky's Humoreske in the second movement, Danses suisses. This kaleidoscopic violin-piano program of Russian Reflections II is sure not-to-be-missed!!!
Emilie and I look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday, April 17th!
With best wishes,

Dr. Yelena Grinberg, founder and artistic director of the Grinberg Classical Salon Series

When: Wednesday, April 17th, 2019, 7 p.m.
          Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.           There will be no late seating          Food-and-wine reception to follow the performance
Where: Private residence on the Upper West Side (upper 90s)
          You will receive the exact address after you register through this website
Admission: $35
          Admission price includes food-and-wine reception with guest Artists          Attendance is limited to just 21 guests          Note: Advance ticket purchase through this site is required
Contact: Yelena Grinberg (ygpiano@gmail.com)
Russian Reflections:
RACHMANINOFF - Romance in D minor from 2 Morceaux de salon, op. 6 (1893)GLAZUNOV - Meditation in D Major for violin and piano, op. 32 (1891)MEDTNER - Violin Sonata No. 1 in B minor, op. 21 (1909-10)TCHAIKOVSKY - Serenade melancolique, op. 26 (1875); Humoreske, op. 10 (1870)STRAVINSKY - Divertimento for violin and piano (1932)
For more information on the Grinberg Classical Salon Series, please visit: http://yelenagrinberg.com/grinberg-classical-salon-series/