Russian Piano Trios

to the grand SEASON FINALE, featuring magnificent RUSSIAN PIANO TRIOS by Rachmaninoff and Arensky alongside Tchaikovsky's beloved Valse-Scherzo for violin and piano, op. 34 (1877) and Myaskovsky's little-known Cello Sonata No. 1 in D Major, op. 12 (1911). Dubbed the "Father of the Soviet Symphony," Nikolai Myaskovsky (1881-1950) was a notable yet one of the most unjustly (!) underrated Russian-Soviet composers who studied with Rimsky-Korsakov and Lyadov, taught Kabalevsky, Khachaturian, and Schedrin, and was a lifelong friend of Sergei Prokofiev. His two-movement, lushly romantic Cello Sonata No. 1 in D Major, op. 12 (1911) was written immediately after he graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory, nearly 40 years prior to his second, better-known Cello Sonata No. 2 in A minor, op. 81 (1948-49) and was inspired by the music of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, who greatly influenced him. An older contemporary of Myaskovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was one of the greatest Russian composers, virtuoso pianists, and conductors of the late Romantic era and first half of the 20th century. His dark and deeply melancholy Trio Elegiaque in G minor (1892) was composed at age 19, when he was still a student, and was likely intended as an homage to Tchaikovsky, who was his elder friend, mentor, and lifelong muse. Unusually cast in only one movement, it goes through a vast array of moods (Lento lugubre - piu vivo - con anima - appassionato - tempo rubato - risoluto), with the opening theme ultimately recast as a funeral march. Despite being his early work, it already reveals Rachmaninoff's compositional mastery and his distinctly personal style, including the glittering pianistic virtuosity and a wide spectrum of sonorities and colors. The source of inspiration to both Myaskovsky and Rachmaninoff, Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was one of the most celebrated composers of the 19th century and the first Russian composer, after Mikhail Glinka, to forge a personal and unmistakably Slavic musical style. Tchaikovsky was particularly fond of the Waltz, having featured it in his ballets, symphonies, operas, chamber music, and solo piano works. His brilliant and justly popular Valse-Scherzo in C Major for violin and piano, op. 34 (1877) was originally written for violin and orchestra and dedicated to Iosif Kotek - a notable Russian violinist, Tchaikovsky's former composition student and most certainly his lover at the time. It is a dazzling vehicle of violinistic virtuosity and elegance which reveals Tchaikovsky's lighter side. Inspired by Tchaikovsky, Anton Arensky (1861-1906) was a precocious Russian Romantic composer, pianist, and pedagogue of Rachmaninoff who was a master miniaturist and a gifted composer of chamber music. His hot-blooded Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, op. 32 (1894) is one of the finest Russian piano trios of all time which was clearly influenced by Tchaikovsky and dedicated to the memory of the legendary Russian cellist, Karl Davidoff. It unfolds in four impassioned movements, including the charming "Arensky Waltz" Scherzo and concludes with an explosive finale, Allegro non troppo, full of soaring lyricism, richly chromatic harmonies, dramatic flair, and virtuosic fireworks for all three players alike. This final Russian-themed program of the Season is not-to-be-missed!!!
Eric, Valeriya and I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday, June 27th!
With best wishes for a fun and fabulous summer,

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

When: Thursday, June 27th, 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 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 PIANO TRIOS
MYASKOVSKY - Cello Sonata No. 1 in D Major, op. 12 (1911)RACHMANINOFF - Trio Elegiaque in G minor (1892)TCHAIKOVSKY - Valse-Scherzo in C Major for violin and piano, op. 34 (1877)ARENSKY - Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, op. 32 (1894)
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For information on Grinberg Classical Salon Series, visit: http://yelenagrinberg.com/grinberg-salon-series/