Kapustin expert Thomas Ang presents a recital of music by Nikolay Kapustin (1937-2020), including some of his unpublished compositions. The concert will include the UK premiere of Kapustin’s First Cello Sonata, Op. 63, performed together with cellist Corinna Boylan.
Ukrainian-born Nikolay Kapustin (1937-2020) was one of Russia’s most famous modern-day composers. His attempts to synthesize jazz and classical techniques give his music a sound that sets it apart. In his talk, Kapustin expert Thomas Ang will explore the history and development of that style and discuss how Kapustin’s work differs from other composers who have tried to tie the two genres together.
Proudly collaborating with the Orpheus Sinfonia for the first time, Pushkin House presents a programme of masterpieces of Russian chamber repertoire, rarely heard in live performance. Vibrant, dynamic and inspiring, Orpheus Sinfonia is a young, bright beacon of the orchestral scene, producing high-quality performances for public benefit, exploring new and ground-breaking avenues and also actively engaging with accessible performances, outreach work and community interaction.
This concert presents a unique opportunity to explore the vocal output of Russian composer Anton Arensky (1861-1906), whose talent was placed incredibly high by Tchaikovsky. Students and graduates of the Guildhall School of music and Drama combine forces with pianists Alina Sorokina and Thomas Ang to present a varied and innovative programme shedding light on the music of this rarely-heard composer. The programme includes Tchaikovsky’s Legend, Op. 54 no. 5, which Arensky used as a theme for his famous Variations, Op. 35a.
Although totally forgotten today, Muscovite Iosif Genishta was a renowned composer and pianist in his day. His artistic friendships included Pushkin, Princess Volkonskaya, Robert Schumann and Hector Berlioz when the latest visited Russia. He was also active as teacher and organiser of musical events: the earliest performances in Russia of Beethoven's piano concertos were the result of his skills as a promoter of large-scale musical events. Most probably a cellist himself, Genishta wrote three cello sonatas, reminiscent in style to early Beethoven. The second one was particularly praised by Schumann.
Prizewinner of Cleveland, Busoni and Paderewski international piano competitions, Ukrainian - born Russian-trained Dinara Klinton makes a welcome return to the Pushkin House. Now a professor of the Royal College of Music in London, Dinara will play a selection of Prokofiev Sonatas, all of which she recorded for Piano Classics in 2020.
This concert offers the opportunity to hear two rarely performed gems of the Russian chamber music: Mikhail Glinka’s unfinished viola sonata in two movements, a rare work for that instrument of the time, and Nikolay Medtner’s third and grandest violin sonata, which he composed in London.
