I heard about Nobuyuki at the same time I heard the shocking news that NO Russian pianists took prizes during the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition. Really? Sad me… what about our unbeatable Russian piano schools? How was it possible? If not Russians, then WHO WERE THEY? And THEY were three fantastic Asians. Thanks to Arts San Antonio, who presented all three winners in concerts in San Antonio, I was given the opportunity to hear them live and I can confirm there was no anti-Russian conspiracy involved in selecting the winners. I was very much impressed with the silver medalist Yeol Eum Son from South Korea, who took second place in the...
Thanksgiving – “à la russe” – Russian Style
I still vividly remember landing at JFK airport on December 29, 1989. My son, Arseni, was 6 years old and this was his first flight. His ears bothered him during the descent and he was extremely cranky. We were armed with two suitcases, my Russian-style fur coat, three English words and an attitude that we were the best. Little did we know… Anya and Arseni in 1989 My ex-husband, Valery, who had arrived three months earlier on a cultural exchange program at Illinois State University met us at the airport in a newly purchased Chevy station wagon, which ate all our savings plus added a substantial debt. Welcome to America! AND, IT WAS...
A Rare Case of Less is More
Does the word MINIMALISM scare the heck out of you? I will save you time and go to Wikipedia: The term “minimalist” is often applied colloquially to designate anything, which is spare or stripped to its essentials. Well, let me tell you how it makes me feel… A few weeks ago, the three girls from my family, my mom, my sister-in-law and I went to the symphony. The program was delightful with the fabulous Sebastian Lang-Lessing conducting. The opening piece of the program was by Estonian composer Arvo Part: “Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten”. It sounded so fresh and beautiful! It made me feel like I was observing a beautiful...
Perfect Date and Peter Tchaikovsky
I met my husband, Robert, on Match.com. On our first date, we brought each other a musical present. He brought me a CD of Russian jazz pianists and I brought him a brochure from the Cactus Pear Music Festival. We both knew right away that this was a match made in heaven… We use to go to a lot of musical events together at the beginning of our relationship. At that time, Robert had no idea what he was getting into by dating me – the artistic director and pianist. Music was still a lot of fun for him before he learned that it is lots and lots and lots of work. Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Live in HD, by the Metropolitan Opera in New York...
Musical Bridges Around the World plays San Fernando Cathedral
From the San Antonio Current If you’ve never heard a performance by Musical Bridges Around the World, you’re missing out on some of the finest musical offerings in San Antonio. Musical Bridges (MBAW) is not so much a formal group as a fluid gathering of world-class musicians whose talents entertain and enlighten their...
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