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Pushkin House Music Salon: The Stuart-Ivanov Duo, The Armoire

Stuart-Ivanov Duo

Carolyn Stuart – violin
Svetozar Ivanov – piano

The Armoire
Works by Nikolai Roslavets (1881-1944)
                

The Stuart-Ivanov Duo: Carolyn Stuart (violin) and Svetozar Ivanov (piano), presents The Armoire – a programme featuring the music of neglected Russian composer Nikolay Roslavets (1881-1944). This multimedia presentation includes documentary footage from Soviet Russia, animation by Andrey Khrjanovsky and poetry by Anna Akhmatova and Marina Tsvetaeva (in Russian with English subtitles). Regarding their world-premiere recording of Roslavets' music, the Fanfare Magazine wrote: 'Carolyn Stuart and Svetozar Ivanov provide all of the expertise one can ask for in their performances of these works' and that their concert 'in every regard [is] a showcase for Stuart's and Ivanov's musical and stylistic mastery.'

Signing of the CDs afterwards.

Music by Roslavets:
    Nocturne (1935)
    Poème romantique (date unknown)
    Trois poèmes (1909/1910)
                         Three Dances (1923)                    
    Preludes # 4, 12, 20, 24 (1941)
    Legend (1930)
    Nocturne (1935)

                           Footage from:                           
I was Stalin’s bodyguard (1990) - Yuri Klepikov        
Anna Akhmatova’s File (1989) - Semyon Aranovich    
Stalin: the red god (1999) - Frederick Baker            
    Armoire (1970) - Andrei Khrjanovsky

Poetry: 
Anna Akhmatova (1889-1966), Marina Tsvetaeva (1892-1941)

Carolyn Stuart, violin
Violin playing described as “tonally resplendent and affectingly assured both stylistically and technically” (Fanfare Magazine) and a performer of "astonishing effectiveness, radiant inspiration, deep sensitivity, and colossal temperament" (Musical Horizons - Sofia), violinist Carolyn Stuart is heard regularly as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician in prominent North American and European centers. Such recent performances were held at Carnegie, Merkin, and Steinway Halls in NYC, Salle Gaveau in Paris, the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, The Bethaniënklooster in Amsterdam, Mansfield 22 in London, American University in Athens, Royal Academy of Music in Denmark, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Teatro del Sale in Florence, Incontro sulla Tastiera in Vicenza, Universities of Toronto in Canada, and the Zurich Conservatory. Festival appearances have included Green Mountain, Chautauqua, Interlochen, Garth Newel, Hot Springs, Pine Mountain, Killington, Fox River, and in the Netherlands (Peter de Gröte), Italy (Autunno and Classicariano in Naples), Bulgaria (Salon des Arts and Sofia Music Weeks), and France (Association Philomuses, Paris).  

Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Svetozar Ivanov has made numerous appearances as recitalist and orchestra soloist in Europe and North America. All Music Guide and Fanfare Magazine praised his recent solo CD’s; the CD “Naked Tango” was called “superbly original, quite moving, personal and musically absorbing” while his CD “Vers la flamme” was celebrated for performances which were “played with aplomb, panache and complete conviction” and interpretation “filled with sensual longing, anguished yearning, anxious dread and provocative energy”.  Regarding his CD “Echo” one reviewer wrote: “Ivanov’s most distinctive gift as a pianist is his ability to draw us inward, which imparts the feeling that we’re approaching a mystery”. Svetozar Ivanov’s most recent album “Dream Images” was described by Fanfare Magazine as “superb and fascinating ” and hailed for “performances of purified beauty that can leave you breathless.”