May 28 @ 6PM, Van Alen Mansion
Russian Center New York cordially invites you to an evening in celebration of the 175th birthday of the Great Russian composer Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky. The festivities will be held at the Van Alen Mansion, 15 East 65th Street in Manhattan beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Tchaikovsky had an immense impact on classical music. One of the most performed composers in the world, his music is widely celebrated for its innovation and beauty, as well as a distinctive style that has come to epitomize the Russian classical “sound.” Tchaikovsky was the first Russian composer to make a lasting international impression, appearing as a guest conductor in Europe and the United States, and leading the grand opening of Carnegie Hall (then known as Music Hall) in 1891. Today we can hardly imagine our culture without Tchaikovsky’s imprint. The Nutcracker, for example, has become an American Christmas tradition. And his stirring 1812 Overture is favored for American Independence Day fireworks displays and other large public celebrations – so much so that it has come to be perceived by many as a quintessentially American piece.
Our celebration will sample the great composer’s beloved song, operatic and solo piano repertoire, and will feature performances by two noted artists: soprano Anya Fidelia and pianist Konstantin Soukhovetski. Rapidly gaining worldwide recognition as exciting, gifted and unique talents, this Russian-born duo will present unique interpretations of Tchaikovsky’s works that are deeply rooted in Russian tradition and as an expression of their love for the master’s music.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Anya Fidelia, Soprano
Scheduled for a New York City solo recital in the fall 2016, versatile and powerful soprano Anya Fidelia made her professional debut at the Caramoor International Festival, where she has returned in subsequent seasons. A Santa Fe Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago National Auditions finalist, Anya is a winner of numerous professional vocal competitions.
Her credits include engagements with the Metropolitan Opera Guild, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and New Israeli Opera, and performances at the Centro de Bellas Artes in Puerto Rico, the Moscow International Performing Arts Center, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall. Anya’s repertoire includes performances as Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, Tatyana in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Lisa in Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades; Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme, and Georgetta in Puccini’s Il Tabarro. She has also had roles in La Forza del Destino, Un Ballo in Maschera, Il Trovatore, Don Carlo, Suor Angelica, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and Tosca, as well as Poulenc’s Blanche de la Force (The Dialogues of the Carmelites). Her performances have also been featured in soundtracks for Tribeca and Cannes award-winning films.
Anya’s future plans include a focus on Verdian and dramatic Verismo repertoire.
Konstantin Soukhovetski, Piano
Pianist, composer, film actor and producer Konstantin Soukhovetski is rapidly earning a reputation as a “young pianist who captivates” with his “distinctive lyricism,” “immaculate technique” and “vigor…refinement… and drama.”
A recipient of over 15 prestigious awards and an alumnus of Juilliard, Konstantin’s career highlights include appearances with the Westmoreland Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Long Island Chamber Players, Manchester Music Festival Orchestra, Asheville Symphony, Chopin Society of Switzerland in Bern and London’s Wigmore Hall, as well as a Debut Recital Award performance at Alice Tully Hall in New York’s Lincoln Center. This season marks the premiere of Konstantin’s transcription of Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs. He is scheduled to appear with the Johannesburg Philharmonic and Eastern Cape Philharmonic (as part of his South African tour), the Miami Symphony Orchestra, Auburn Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Series in New York City. Konstantin has also been appointed Artist in Residence at Music In The Mountains Festival in California.