Saturday 11th October is the first in a series of three evening concerts to be hosted at Pushkin House this autumn. More than just a piano recital, the event will focus on the close connection between music and the visual arts; it is an educational event, opening the doors to the world of classical music and designed to appeal to both adults and children alike. The event will take place predominantly Russian.
Whilst parents have a chance to sit back, socialise and become absorbed in the music, younger viewers can benefit from the pianist's lively introduction to each piece she plays, encouraging members of the audience – young and old – to engage with, explore and be inspired by different aspects and emotions of the classical repertoire.  
A further, visual dimension will be added by the pianist's own artwork in batik, oil and pastel displayed at the concert venue as a complement to the music being played. For children it is a means of bringing the tunes to life, and demonstrates the live, symbiotic relationship between music and art. 

The evening will feature an eclectic mix of composers and musical styles, combining traditional and modern pieces.

PROGRAMME

Domenico  Scarlatti (1685–1757) Sonatas In B. Minor K.27,  in D minor L.108

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) Oiseaux Tristes

George Crumb (1929) Cancer, Pisces, Capricorn, Gemini (Makrokosmos I)

Aaron Copland Piano Variations 

~~ interval ~~

Michael Finnissy (1946) Green Meadows (No 1) and Come beat the drums and sound the fifes. 

Johan Sebastian Bach "Sarabanda" from partita in e minor.          

Nika Shirocorad   Shadows for piano and CD

Pierre Jodlowski   Série Noire (Thriller) for piano and CD

Dress code: smart

Nika Shirocorad was born in St. Petersburg into a family of well-known artists and won her first serious piano prize at the age of 6. A truly modern and multicultural pianist, she went on to study at the National Conservatory in Russia, the Chisinau Academy, the Chopin Conservatory in Poland and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, among others.  She has won numerous prestigious competitions all over the world, notably the Janet Duff Greet Prize awarded by the Royal Academy of Music in 2010, and she is a regular on the international concert circuit. Her recent appearances include performances at the Cannes Film Festival, a Japan Tour and a solo recital for the Manchester Midday Concert Series at the Bridgewater Hall. An active visual artist, Nika's work is displayed in numerous private and public collections.