Russian Masterworks for Cello and Piano I

enchanting evening of RUSSIAN MASTERWORKS FOR CELLO AND PIANO I, showcasing some of the most exquisite works for cello and piano by Rachmaninoff, Arensky, Myaskovsky, Schnittke, and Prokofiev. Our program will open with Rachmaninoff's sensual and seldom-played Prelude in F Major for cello and piano, op. 2 (1892) - one of his earliest compositions couched in late Romantic style which foreshadows his later, oft-played Cello Sonata in G minor, op. 19 (1901,) written when he was just 19 years old. A precocious Russian Romantic composer, pianist, and teacher, Anton Arensky (1861-1906) composed a number of characterful miniatures for cello and piano, which include his spirited Oriental Air in D minor, op. 56 (1894-1900) - a charming waltz which has the quality of a sultry Spanish folk dance, featuring an exotic melody and virtuosic fireworks for both instruments alike. Dubbed the "Father of the Soviet Symphony," Nikolai Myaskovsky (1881-1950) was a notable yet unjustly underrated Russian-Soviet composer who studied with Rimsky-Korsakov and Lyadov, taught Kabalevsky, Khachaturian, and Schedrin, and was a lifelong friend of Sergei Prokofiev. His impassioned Cello Sonata No. 2 in A minor, op. 81 (1948-49), dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich, was written post-WWII and shortly after in direct response to the famous Resolution on music issued by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. It re-embraces old traditional idiom of Russian music with many catchy folk themes derived from Russian peasant songs and concludes with a riveting moto perpetuo finale - a whirlwind of instrumental dance tunes. A Soviet-German composer, Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998), was greatly influenced by Dmitry Shostakovich and pioneered a polystylistic musical technique. His bittersweet Musica Nostalgica for cello and piano (1992), dedicated to Rostropovich, exemplifies polystylism as "a fruit of a hybrid musical world that never quite existed, a fusion city mixing the Cothen of J. S. Bach's cello sonatas, the Vienna of Schubert's poignant wistful waltzes, and the Esterhaza of Haydn's minuets" (Seth Brodsky). Our program will culminate with Prokofiev's sunny Sonata in C Major for cello and piano, op. 119 (1949) - his neo-Classical masterpiece inspired by Prokofiev's attendance of the concert in which Rostropovich performed Myaskovsky's Cello Sonata No. 2 in A minor, op. 81, which Prokofiev dedicated to Rostropovich and which Myaskovsky proclaimed a "miraculous piece of music!". This poignant musical journey through the Russian Masterworks for Cello and Piano I is NOT to be missed!
Andrey and I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday, March 9th!
With best wishes,

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

When: Saturday, March 9th, 2019, 5 p.m.
           Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.           There will be no late seating           Food-and-wine reception to follow the salon
Where: Upper West Side (upper 90s)             You'll receive the exact address after you have registered through this website
Admission: $35
             Admission price includes food-and-wine reception with guest Artists             Attendance is limited to just 21 seats!             Advance ticket purchase through Eventbrite is required
Contact: Dr. Yelena Grinberg (ygpiano@gmail.com)
Program: Russian Masterworks for Cello and Piano I
RACHMANINOFF - Prelude in F Major for cello and piano, op. 2 (1892)ARENSKY - Oriental Air for cello and piano, op. 56 (1894-1900)MYASKOVSKY - Cello Sonata No. 2 in A minor, op. 81 (1948-49)SCHNITTKE - Musica nostalgica for cello and piano (1992)PROKOFIEV - Sonata in C Major for cello and piano, op. 119 (1949)**************************************************************************************
For more information on the Grinberg Classical Salon Series and to browse the upcoming salons, please visit: http://yelenagrinberg.com/grinberg-salon-series/
For more information on cellist, Andrey Tchekmazov, go to: https://www.andreytchekmazov.com/
For more information on pianist, Yelena Grinberg, go to: www.yelenagrinberg.com