LA's progressive literary magazine puts Classical Underground in a spotlight

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We are in January / February issue of Forth Magazine

LA's progressive literary magazine puts Classical Underground in a spotlight

Didn't we always say that the ARTS should all stand for what they are together? Classical Underground is the place WHERE ARTS MEET. Click here to read and watch Alexey's interview about the concepts behind Classical Underground as well as what ART means for him personally.

Forth Magazine * jan feb 2010

Some experts from the article:

"...even though Classical Underground started as a deceptively casual affair, it is a serious part of Alexey's vision for the future of art..."

"It makes sense that Alexey has chosen giant canvases and huge ideas that refuse containment and control."

"At a CU performance, musicians are made to feel free to try new variations, new arrangements, even new compositions, and each month is a completely different experience..."

"Alexey is thrilled that his underground can offer people more than the joy of a finished product - the thrill of process and experiment...the audience is drawn by nothing other than the hunger for the experience."

"It is underground because we are not supposed to exist," he explains. "Things in our capitalist society have to have a commercial function, and we do not. We have no purpose to exist, and it's liberating."

"Alexey sees CU as a building block, a brick in a new artistic legacy being constructed out of the remnants of Modernism and post-Modernism."

"Since we've collectively deconstructed everything to the point that nothing exists, we can reassemble in any way we want, in any way we NEED really, not as a point of habit, but as a point of NEED. That's Classical Underground."

"...trying to contain a giant in three pages of words is a loosing battle, as futile as trying to do justice to that laugh..."

****
Classical Underground expresses its deep appreciation to Sofyia Goldshteyn for such an insightful and elegantly articulated piece.

After concert notes

How fortunate we all were last night as it was certainly absolutely unforgettable benchmark for our Classical Underground. The intimacy of live music-making between Boris Andrianov, Liza Andrianov, Roberto Cani, Yana Reznik …you simply had to be there to know, as it was purely experiential.

Boris Andrianov proves once again – “Classical” can rock you and shake you to the depths of your foundation…that’s what the real ART does and ART can only be HIGH. - Alexey




Was amazing! Thank you for bringing together such great talents. I adore music and have not seen a live performance in a while, what a rush of sensations.
See you next time. - Anahita

A TOTALLY AWESOME CU ALEXEY !!! MANY, MANY, MANY THANKS ALWAYS ...! - Kirk

Indeed an incredible performance...!!! A concert to be remembered!!! - Ignat



That was the most amazing night... - Christina

Dear Alexey and Olga,
The evening with Boris Andrianov and Friends was spectacular. He is an astonishing virtuoso, and everyone played impeccably. The Shostakovich trio was heartbreaking—a reminder of a terrible time for his (and your) country.

Thank you for all you do to keep the true spirit of music and art alive in LA. Affectionately, - Judith

For more photographs from the event please go to Picasa - courtesy of Michael Herf and Alexey Steele.

December 3 Programme

alexey steele presents
CLASSICAL UNDERGROUND
December 3, 2009
Friends in Town Series

P.Tchaikovsky Nocturne

M.de Falla Suite populaire Espagnole
El Pano Moruno
Nana
Cancion
Polo
Asturiana
Jota

M.Bruch Kol Nidrei

G.Sollima Alone (cello solo)

S.Rachmaninov 3 romances
V molchanii nochi tainoi
Kak mne bolno
Vesennie vodi

G.Sollima Lamentatio

N.Paganini Variations on One string on a theme by Rossini's opera Mose in Egitto

D.Shostakovitch Trio N.2 e minor in 4 movements


Performed by:

Boris Andrianov (cello)
Elizavetta Andrianov (piano)
Roberto Cani (violin)
Yana Reznik (piano)


CLASSICAL UNDERGROUND SHOWCASE
focusing on a classical art form of
serious contemporary representational art

MEXICO - THE LAND OF MYTH

previewing works of CU painters
IGNAT IGNATOV, JEREMY LIPKING
and ALEXEY STEELE
from a recent Mexico trip

We just came from the most incredible painting excursion alone with our east coast compadres to San Miguel de Allende and we decided to share with you some of the material we brought back. It was a remarkable trip of artistic camaraderie and inspiration, excitement and all-out nutty fun, of discoveries and stimulating exchanges - all fueling our very own joint cultural insurgency in the name of ART.

Ignat Ignatov, Street Corner 12" X 9"


Jeremy Lipking "Doll seller" 8" X 6" oil



Alexey Steele "Shoeshiner. San Miguel Jay" 65" X 26"

It was an extraordinary trip... It was absolutely enormous experience...it shook me to the ground depths... What true to the core, solid and grounded characters...still somehow untouched by the all-avergizing militant consumerism of "empty can" worshipers... I saw enormous in their raw, authentic strength and unpolished beauty themes and images...

Everything that ART as TRUTH is all about - lays bare right there...south of our border...

Mexico...what a mythic land of so real people and so true characters...humble without subservience, proud without arrogance...how much we've lost in a name of "consumer"

Viva Revolucion de Arte!!!

Alexey

Rex and Classical Underground on ABC Eyewitness News

by Adrienne Alpert, KABC

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Thanks to music, a teen with severe disabilities discovered an extraordinary talent. And with it, what could have been a very limited life has enlightened thousands.

Cathleen Lewis was told her son might never walk or talk. Rex was born blind and mentally impaired 14 years ago. He developed autistic symptoms. But at age 2, he was given a piano.

Rex cannot read music. He can play exactly what he hears. He is one of the world's very few musical savants. Rex learned all of "Rhapsody in Blue" in five hours. He has music teachers and hours of practice, and his technique, his improvisation, are growing more sophisticated every day.

Rex performed at Classical Underground earlier this month, a progressive venue. He and his mother travel frequently for his performances. She speaks, delivering a message of inspiration.

"Rex is my greatest teacher. He's taught me to stop just chasing after 'things,'" said Cathleen.

Cathleen walked away from a career in finance and now teaches visually impaired children when she and Rex aren't on the road.

"He gets such joy when he plays for people. You should see his face. It's like plugging him into an electrical socket. He lights up like he's been given a shot of adrenaline," said Cathleen.

And while audiences are clearly moved by this boy whose world revolves around music, Cathleen has written a book describing her life with Rex and the music that transformed them.

"There's no giving up, I'm on a fascinating ride. It's not just not giving up. It's 'enjoy the ride,'" said Cathleen.

Rex doesn't carry on a conversation, but he has opinions. When asked whose music he likes best, he answers, "Mine."

He goes to public high school where he receives special education. And just recently, a breakthrough.

"Out of the blue, last year, he had his hand on a page of Braille, and all of a sudden, he was reading Braille. Six years later," said Cathleen.

With his heightened sensitivity, Rex couldn't touch Braille, until now. And he is broadening his musical abilities by learning how to sing.

Music opened Rex's curiosity about the world. There is no telling where it might take him.

(Copyright ©2010 KABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

December 3 concert: Boris Andrianov - friends in town series

As we enjoy here in the Angelic City of ours a constellation of extraordinary talent that we so often enjoy within our Classical Underground platform, we often miss our good friends, some going many ears back, but who visit us rarely. Those who were fortunate enough to stay till midnight at March 2nd concert to hear our dear friend Boris Andrianov, know what I am talking about.

As my painting path taks me to far corners of the World as of late, we almost missed each other with Boris this time around... and I simply couldn't stand the thought of missing one of my personal favorite musicians of our time.

Well, as the main premise of Classical Underground is to showcase the greatest "Classical" has to offer, as, in our view, the only way ART can exist, and we never flinch to experiment to this end as we enjoy the journey - we are extremely excited to announce the Classical Underground Special - our new "Friends in Town Showcase" ... and yes, our first offering is Boris Andrianov and Friends!!!!!

Guest star:
Boris Andrianov - cello
together with:
Elizavetta Andrianov - piano
Yana Reznik - piano
Roberto Cani - violin

The program to be announced at the concert - Boris Andrianov carte blanche and the Shostakovich piano trio.



Since the last time reservation and admission process worked out, we ask you to pre-pay for your entrance even if you would like to come later in the evening - with PayPal (accepts all credit cards and bank accounts). Your pre-payment will be your reservation. Please bring the receipt to the concert please. Sorry, no refunds.

we are sold out!

November 9 Programme

alexey steele presents
CLASSICAL UNDERGROUND
November 9, 2009
Chamber music series
Music director Maksim Velichkin

Jörg Widmann "Air"
Ben Jaber-horn

J.Brahms Waltz Medley Opus 39
F.Chopin Fantaisie Impromptu
Improvisation off a Chopin Nocturne
Rex Lewis-Clack-piano

P. Tchaikovsky Meditation
Lyudmila Adzhemova -violin
Maksim Velichkin-piano

M.Ravel Ondine
W. Bolcom Serpent's Kiss Ragtime
Georgi Slavchev-piano

J.S. Bach Sarabande from Suite no.6
N.Paganini Caprice #17
August Lee -cello

N. Burgmüller Duo op.15
Sergei Vassilyev-clarinet
Harout Senekeremian-piano

Duke Ellington T.G.T.T. from Second Sacred Service
Tricia Oney-lyric soprano

F.Liszt Rhapsody # 12
Yana Reznik-piano

INTERMISSION

J.S. Bach Invention (arrangement with viola)
Serge Oskotsky-cello, Alexander Gurevich-viola

P.Hindemith duo for 2 cellos
Serge Oskotsky-cello, Maksim Velichkin-cello

F.Liszt Funerailles
Soo Lee-piano

Schumann Adagio and Allegro
"Duo Esperanza"
Joo Lee-cello
Soo Lee-piano

I.Albeniz : from "Iberia":
El Puerto
Almeria
Triana
Regulo Martinez-piano

J. Williams Theme from "Schindler's List"
S. Prokofiev March from "The Love For Three Oranges"
Saschka Haberl-violin
Yana Reznik-piano

N.Kapustin Variations Op 41
Harout Senekeremian-piano

*****

CLASSICAL UNDERGROUND SHOWCASE

focusing on a classical art form of serious contemporary representational art

CU Painter: Leonid Steele

Today's my Dad's birthday...he turned 88, a Great Man, a Warrior of Art, Maestro and Living Classic...he come to the studio today and we painted a nude.

It was special indeed...he blasted half of 18" X 24" before we even got to set up...he wrote a poem tonight, in Russian of course, but the meaning of it was that time has no power over feeling and once you go just by your feeling, you remain eternally young...he should know

This is a portrait of my grandmother he did in 1954.

Portrait of Mother 31" x 39" oil on canvas

A deep realist who transformed through his humanist eye the collective artistic effort of his generation into timeless images that speak to us now, Classical Underground celebrates the life-long work of a Master for whom ART was and is a way of LIFE.

November 9 is Sold Out

It never seizes to amaze us, but we are sold out of all allocated spaces by 12:30 p.m.

Thank you for your support and appreciation of Classical Underground platform. We hope to see you all at our future events that are in the works.