We welcome  you to a Russian-themed holiday night at Classical 
Underground,  featuring a program of Russian favorites and the CU debuts
 of some  outstanding young Russian talents, as well as returning good 
friends.
 
Cellist  Alexander Buzlov is an exciting young cellist with an 
international  career that was burgeoning even before he was a 
prizewinner at the most  recent Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.  He 
will perform  Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, featuring one of the 
composer's most  beautiful and memorable tunes in the 3rd movement, with
 Anton Smirnoff  on piano, and a few surprise solo pieces.
 
Azerbaijan-born and USC-bred soprano Liya Khaimova will sing songs of Rachmaninoff, accompanied by Daniel Linder on piano.
 
Pianist  Vladimir Khomyakov will display two aspects of his 
virtuosity with the  heavenly clarity of the Bach/Siloti arrangement 
Prelude in B minor and  the grand inferno of Liszt's Dante Sonata.
 
Our  own cello regular Evgenny Tonkha and Anton Smirnoff will 
perform L.A.  composer Juan Colomer's "The existential tourist."  
Longtime
  CU friend Roberto Cani, distinguished concertmaster of the LA Opera,  
joins the program, preparing an extra treat for us with the phenomenal  
cellist Alexander Buzlov.
 
And  for a festive finale, Natasha Rubin-Marin and Marina Demina 
will play  piano 4-hand arrangements of selections from Tchaikovsky's 
beloved  Nutcracker Suite.