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.