From My Favorite Pianists series, Op. 1

From My Favorite Pianists series, Op. 1

I am a big fan of 88.3 KPAC Classical Radio Station. Every time I drive, I turn it on with the anticipation of hearing something spectacular. If I hear piano playing with enormous expressiveness, I know…this is Martha. If the piano music sounds like there are a few good men playing simultaneously on many pianos…this is Martha. The name of Martha Argerich on any label always means fire, as it does here: Record Review / Gramophone Awards Issue (London) / 01 January 1987 Argerich continues to astonish . . . Argerich plays with the blend of immaculate tone, bravura technique and temperament that have placed her at the pianistic peak . . . a...

Drought and Old Picture Albums

Drought and Old Picture Albums

We were having a drought and the constant news about fires was quite disturbing. I have lived in San Antonio for over 20 years now and have never seen a drought of this magnitude. Guest portable bed in Kerop’s and Tanya’s apartment…studio/living room/bedroom/guest room The day before, my neighbor Connie had called, and said that her son’s house in Fair Oaks Ranch was in danger. She wondered if Robert and I could take people in, just in case there might be refugees. Yes, we have a big house (and big hearts, I’d like to think) so we would take in people. Russian art in Anya’s house in San Antonio After I hung up the phone, I...

Silk Road Project

I saw the Silk Road Project for the first time a few years ago in Great Performances on KLRN… and it changed me forever!  Needless to say, I am a big fan.  This project greatly influenced my vision as Artistic Director of Musical Bridges.  The magnificent display of talent from the different cultures encompassed every form of musical expression: various forms of schooling or sometimes no schooling at all; written scores for classically trained musicians and improvisation by raw talent from far away ethnic cultures.  The performances crossed the boundaries of genres, time, languages, history, and I’m sure a lot of other boundaries I cannot...

The Magic of Jazz

The Magic of Jazz

To me, jazz is an unexplainable mystical phenomenon of humanity, that ultimate art of improvisation. Can you imagine going on stage (if you can imagine it at all!), without really knowing what is going to happen?  Yes, there is a program, something like a list of songs or tunes, as they call it in the jazz world, and a preliminary agreement between players not to step on each other’s time, and a plan as to who plays solo after whom and for how long… but the rest is in God’s hands. Now imagine for a minute that you are a classical musician, and you are about to go on stage… You have a memorized solo program, at least 90 minutes long, that...

Shostakovich and Many Tears

Have you ever cried like a baby, sitting in the second row at the symphony? Did you ever feel like a total idiot, hiding your tears from the normal people to your right and left? I did, I would not lie. I am not proud of it, but some music does it to me. Springtime in Moscow, apple trees in bloom Recently, the San Antonio Symphony performed Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10 and to my dismay, I cried like a baby for the entire Symphony. I still am trying to figure out why. Yes, it is beautiful music and the San Antonio Symphony did a great job, but I have heard this Symphony at least 100 times before, living in Russia where my dad played violin...