May 17 Classical Underground invitation

Dear friends,

At recent Classical Uunderground nights we have been so rarely fortunate to indulge in the close and intimate experience of some of today's most exciting musical treasures, mixed with some of the most exciting visual talent. Our last Classical Underground "Extra," with a great new friend Simon Trpceski right after his sensational performance at Disney Hall, still exhilarates and inspires.

Now a new great treat awaits us on May 17. Anyone who happened to share the last September concert with us knows what an exciting musical powerhouse our two-generation, longtime friend Jura Margulis really is. Yes, as part of our very special May lineup Classical Uunderground is welcoming back Jura, who comes from his esteemed academic position at the University of Arkansas to spend an evening with us. Part of the internationally storied Margulis musical family, Jura will share the night with his sister, Natalia Margulis, principal cellist with the Madrid Opera Orchestra. We also are very happy to greet our wonderful CU friend, violinist David Chernyavsky, who is coming just for this concert from San Francisco, where he is now with the San Francisco Symphony.

Also featured this evening are: Timur Bekbosunov (tenor), Eduardo Delgado (piano), Yuliya Barsky (piano), Jonathan Moerschel (viola), Oxana Senina (coloratura soprano), Anya Ivanova (piano).

Again we are most grateful to our supportive friends at Steinway Piano Gallery West Hollywood for graciously providing us with their incomparable instrument.

As always - don't forget - it is a potluck party - bring your favorite food and drink!
Your PayPal payment is your reservation to the evening.

Jura Margulis has performed with the Russian National Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl, the Montreal Symphony, the Prague Symphony, and at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, and at Martha Argerich's festivals in Lugano, Switzerland and Beppu, Japan. He is Executive Director of the International Piano Academy in Freiburg, Germany, and Professor of Piano at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where he swears it is indeed possible to get a fine cup of cappuccino.

Here you can view Jura's performance at CU last September:




Natalia Margulis makes a return visit to CU from Spain, where she is principal cellist of the Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid. When not accompanying the Madrid Opera, Natasha frequently plays in chamber ensembles throughout Spain and Europe, and has performed at the Verbier and Lugano Festivals.



David Chernyavsky returns to CU from his new gig up north as violinist with the San Francisco Symphony, having also been a member of the LA Philharmonic and The St. Petersburg String Quartet.



Eduardo Delgado, CU favorite, renowned performer of romantic and Argentinian piano repertoire, Prof. at CSUF. Will spend this summer performing in Argentina and Italy.



Timur Bekbosunov, a unique and fascinating tenor, has performed at Disney Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Long Beach Opera.




Founding violist of the famed Calder String Quartet, Jonathan Moerschel made his Boston Symphony Hall solo debut with the Boston Pops Orchestra in 1997 after taking first prize in the Boston Symphony Orchestra Competition.






Yuliya Barsky, a frequent CU performer who elects to collaborate with chamber musicians in groups of two to six when not teaching piano in her studio.






Armen Ksajikian, has performed as principal or soloist with the Los Angeles Chamber, Opus Chamber and Hollywood Bowl orchestras, among others.






Oxana Senina, coloratura soprano, holds two Bachelor of Music degrees in both voice and cello from Chonkushov University and a Master's degree in voice from the Gnessino Academy in Moscow. This is her CU debut.







Anya Ivanova, classically trained pianist has quickly established herself as one of the busiest performers in the Los Angeles musical scene. Her involvement in the life of classical vocalists and theatrical community manifested in her collaboration with musical theater companies, acting studios as well working with seasoned chamber musicians in the Los Angeles area.

Hanging out with a paino star - April 19 Programme

GUEST STAR
Simon Trpčeski - piano
Macedonia



In the program with Finalists and Winners of the Loeb/Louviere International Competition



Mary Au - Chair of the Competition, piano







Xian Zhuo - cello








Pavel Petrov - piano









Xika Huang - violin

alexey steele presents
CLASSICAL UNDERGROUND – EXTRA!!!
Hanging out with a star
April 19, 2010

This “EXTRA” is co-conspired in great collaboration with comrade Laurence Vittes.
Special thanks to Steinway Piano Gallery–West Hollywood for graciously providing their wonderful piano!

PROGRAMME
Introductions by Laurence Vittes

Frederic Chopin - Introduction and Rondo E Flat Major Op.16
Maurice Ravel - Alborada del gracioso

Pavel Petrov – piano

Carlo Alfredo Piatti - Caprice No.3
Jules Massenet – Meditation from Thaïs
Friedrich “Fritz” Kreisler - Chinese Tambourine

Xian Zhuo – cello
Mary Au – piano

Henryk Wieniawski - Original Theme and Variations Op.15

Xika Huang - violin
May Au - piano

*****
GUEST STAR
Simon Trpčeski – piano
Macedonia

Carte Blanche*

***
Intermission
***

Simon Trpčeski – piano

Macedonia

Carte Blanche*

*Includes works by Edvard Grieg, Frederic Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn, Pyotr Tchaikovsky and more…

CU Extra - not to miss April 19 - Hanging out with a piano star!

WE ARE SOLD OUT!

Big thanks to Steinway Paino Gallery - West Hollywood!
Classical Underground Extra features pianist Simon Trpčeski who will be playing at Disney Hall this weekend with Rachmaninoff's magnificent First Concerto with the LA Philharmonic at Disney Hall this weekend, which we hope you all will attend!

Yet, right after that, we have a unique and exciting chance to hear Simon Trpčeski in the intimate setting at CU where you can hear Simon's less "formal" repertoire and hang out with this fabulous international star of the piano world. He will introduce his recent album with Avie Records as well as have some great surprises for the audience.

As Simon is an enthusiastic supporter of promising “up and coming talent”, we are happy to welcome to the program a number of finalists and winners of a recent Loeb/Louviere International Competition - Xian Zhuo - cello, Pavel Petrov - piano, Xika Huang - violin, with accompanist Mary Au, the Competition Chair.

And … did I mention we have a Steinway this event too?!!!

Well, Steinway – D sound of Classical Underground!
Trpčeski + CU + D = Haven in LA

http://www.trpceski.com/simon/

With the ability to perform a diverse range of repertoire—from Haydn and Chopin to Debussy and Stravinsky—Macedonian pianist Simon Trpčeski has established himself as one of the most remarkable young musicians to have emerged in recent years, performing with many of the world’s greatest orchestras and captivating audiences worldwide. Mr. Trpčeski is praised not only for his impeccable technique and delicate expression, but also for his warm personality and commitment to strengthening Macedonia’s cultural image. The New York Times’ Anthony Tommasini praises Trpčeski’s dazzling musicianship, saying "He tore through the double- octave outbursts with arm-blurring speed and no sense of strain. Yet in tenderly lyrical moments he caressed the phrases, playing with naturalness, never milking anything."

Mr. Trpčeski has appeared with many of the world’s finest orchestras. In North America, he has performed with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestras, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh and San Francisco Symphony orchestras and the Chicago, Toronto and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, among others. In the United Kingdom, he is a frequent soloist with the London and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestras, the Philharmonia and Halle Orchestras and the London Philharmonic. Other engagements with major European ensembles include the Royal Concertgebouw, Russian National and Bolshoi Theatre Orchestras, NDR Sinfonieorchester Hamburg, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and the Rotterdam, Strasbourg, Royal Stockholm, Royal Flanders and St. Petersburg Philharmonics. In Asia he has performed with the New Japan, Seoul and Hong Kong Philharmonics. In Australia he has been featured with the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, and has toured with the New Zealand Symphony. Mr. Trpčeski has worked with a prominent list of conductors, including Marin Alsop, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Andrew Davis, Gustavo Dudamel, Charles Dutoit, Vladimir Jurowski, Lorin Maazel, Gianandrea Noseda, Antonio Pappano, Vasily Petrenko, Yan Pascal Tortelier and David Zinman.

Simon Trpčeski’s 2009-2010 season features an ambitious schedule of worldwide engagements and projects. March 2010 sees Mr. Trpčeski’s Avie label debut with his first concerto recording of Rachmaninoff’s notoriously challenging Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 3 with Vasily Petrenko and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. In North America, Simon Trpčeski performs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Dallas and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestras, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Houston, Seattle and San Francisco Symphonies. Internationally, Mr. Trpčeski will tour Europe with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Lorin Maazel and with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic under Jaap van Zweden. He begins a Rachmaninoff piano concerto cycle with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and continues the same with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Additional European orchestral appearances include the London Symphony Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, Strasbourg Philharmonic and Orchestre National de France. He makes his Cleveland Orchestra debut at the Blossom Music Festival and participates in the festivals at Verbier, Chorégies d'Orange and Aspen.

In December 2009, the President of Macedonia H.E. Gjorge Ivanov honored Simon Trpčeski with the Presidential Order of Merit for Macedonia. This decoration is given to foreign and domestic dignitaries responsible for the affirmation of Macedonia abroad. Upon awarding Mr. Trpčeski with this honor, The President stated “By bringing his artistic talent to classical music halls around the world, Simon Trpceski is among the greatest ambassadors of the Republic of Macedonia, demonstrating to the world that Macedonia is a land of exceptional artists. Through his subtle mission he has confirmed that, although the Republic of Macedonia is geographically small, it is a spiritually and artistically great country, with inexhaustible creativity to offer the cultures of the world.” Mr. Trpceski is the youngest recipient of a medal of any kind in Macedonian history.

A superb recitalist, Simon Trpčeski and has given solo performances in such cultural capitals as New York City, San Francisco, Atlanta, Portland, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver in North America; and abroad in London, Tokyo, Paris, Munich, Bilbao, Dublin, Prague, Milan and Hamburg. He has performed on the main stage of the Concertgebouw, as well as at the United Nations headquarters on the occasion of the closing of the sixty-second session of the U.N. General Assembly, at the invitation of the session’s President, H.E. Srgjan Kerim. Simon also performs chamber music as often as he can, having performed at such festivals as Aspen, Verbier and Risor. With the special support of KulturOp—Macedonia’s leading cultural and arts organization—and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Trpčeski works regularly with young musicians in Macedonia in order to cultivate the talent of the country’s next generation of artists.

Simon has received widespread acclaim for his recital recordings on the EMI label. His first recording, released in 2002, featured works by Tchaikovsky, Scriabin, Stravinsky and Prokofiev, and received both the “Editor’s Choice” and “Debut Album” awards at the Gramophone Awards. His 2005 Rachmaninoff and 2007 Chopin discs both received extensive praise from critics. In 2008, he released an all-Debussy disc entitled Debussy: Images, which was equally applauded. London’s Independent on Sunday described Trpčeski’s interpretations as “subtle, clever, imaginative pianism of the very highest quality.”

Born in the Republic of Macedonia in 1979, Simon Trpčeski has won prizes in international piano competitions in the United Kingdom, Italy and the Czech Republic. From 2001 to 2003, he was a member of the BBC New Generation Scheme, and in May 2003, he was honored with the Young Artist Award by the Royal Philharmonic Society. Mr. Trpčeski is a graduate of the School of Music at the University of St. Cyril and St. Methodius in Skopje, where he studied with Professor Boris Romanov. In addition to his international engagements, he currently teaches as a faculty member at his alma mater. Simon Trpčeski makes him home in Skopje with his family.

As always, your RSVP is your PayPal reservation.
We are sold out!

April 12 Programme

alexey steele presents
Classical Underground

Where ARTS meet series

Monday, April 12, 2010

PROGRAMME

we are thanking the Steinway Piano Gallery-West Hollywood
for most graciously providing us with the piano

Frank Campo - Fantasia Autunnale, Op. 82
Jonathon Grasse - Letters from Brazil
RJ, RJ (Rio de Janeiro)
BH, MG (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais)

The Kravchak Morris Duo
Richard Kravchak - oboe/English horn
Scott Morris - guitar

***
P. Vladigerov - Valse Romantique
G. Z. Cherkin - Sevdana
Hristoskov - Rustic Caprice
Moni Simeonov – violin
Pepi Pilibossian – piano

***
Frederick Chopin - Nocturne op. 9 #1
3 Waltzes
Eduardo Delgado – piano

***
Giuseppe Verdi - Dormiro sol nel manto mio regal from "Don Carlos"
Boris Martinovich – bass-baritone
Kanae Matsumoto – piano

***
Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Trumpet Concerto E Major
II:Andante
III: Rondo (Allegro)
Rodion Shchedrin - A la Albeniz
arranged for trumpet and piano by Timofei Dokshitser
Courtney Jones – trumpet
Kanae Matsumoto – piano

***
Four Shakespeare Songs by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
"What shall he have that kill'd the deer"
"O mistress mine"
"Take, o take those lips away"
"Who is Silvia?"
Timur Bekbosunov – tenor
Anastasia Nemirovich-Danchenko – piano

***
Peter Schickele - Autumn Trio (2009)
Mosaic
Intermezzo
Tarantella (La Vache Qui Rit)
The Autumn Trio
Michele Zukovsky – clarinet
Armen Ksajikian – cello
Bryon Pezzone - piano

*****
Classical Underground Showcase

PETER ADAMS
painter

It would be exceptionally hard to find anyone around who did more for the Arts affecting so many great artists of our day than did Peter alone with his incredible wife Elaine in their unparalleled and self-less personal effort of making California Art Club into what it is today. Thank you, Peter from all of us!

Peter Adams - Alberich's Vision (Rhine Maidens) Oil 72" x 48"

Next month with Peter's passion for opera the CAC team is putting up the exhibitions at the LA's landmark Our Lady of The Angels Cathedral and two other venues to be part of LA's Ring Festival celebrating a full Ring Cycle production by our magnificent LA Opera.

Monday, April 12 Program and Performers and new PayPal button

The complete program will be posted on the website shortly (subject to change).
Our event is sold out!

We are excited to feature the following musicians on April 12:



Michelle Zukovsky, frequent soloist and principal clarinetist of the LA Philharmonic






Eduardo Delgado, CU favorite, renowned performer of romantic and Argentinian piano repertoire, Prof. at CSUF




Moni Simeonov, CU favorite, dynamic virtuoso of romantic Bulgarian violin, concertmaster of Reno Philharmonic.





Boris Martinovich, Croatian Bass-Baritone who has appeared in the major opera houses of the U.S. and Europe.





Scott Morris, classical guitarist, winner of numerous awards and competitions, Director of Guitar Studies at CSUDH.






Richard Kravchak, a woodwind soloist, chamber and orchestral musician around the world and Chair of Music Department at CSUDH.






Timur Bekbosunov, a unique and fascinating tenor, has performed at Disney Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Long Beach Opera




Courtney Jones, a bright new trumpet discovery from UCLA pursuing his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance and Pedagogy at UCLA. Jones also conducts the UCLA Symphonic Band and recently soloed with the UCLA Marching Band.





Armen Ksajikian, Ksajikian has performed as principal or soloist with the Los Angeles Chamber, Opus Chamber and Hollywood Bowl orchestras, among others.







Kanae Matsumoto, is active as a soloist and a collaborative pianist, having performed many recital halls in Germany, Italy, Russia, Japan and the United States.






Pepi Pilibossian, an incredible collaborative pianist, our CU regular, performing rare authentic music.






Bryon A. Pezzone, as a soloist, Bryan has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Pacific Symphony among others.



Anastasia Nemirovich-Danchenko, pianist, accompanist at various festivals in the US and France, regular performer at CU.

April 12 event invitation - piano provided by Steinway Piano Gallery West Hollywood

Dear friends,

There is so much exciting news to share!

On behalf of CU I am deeply grateful to Steinway Piano Gallery - West Hollywood for their most gracious and insightful support and participation in our join cause of insuring that classical music as an art form does not slip away at our unique and exciting cultural intersection of history.

We are excited beyond any ability to scream loud enough to host yet again at our upcoming CU one of the true marvels of mankind - the ultimate statement of real ART and refinement, the concert D.

Steinway - D Sound of Classical Underground!!!!!

I would also like to take this moment to think all of you - the brilliant musicians, the artists, the audience, the volunteers - for being part of our cause which is ART. I would also like to take this moment to thank our most gracious friend Richard Rand for his unwavering support of this joint cause; it is because of such support that ART was ever possible and will ever be possible as ART is eternal.

Chairs are first-come first-served - and please do not forget about the potluck - create your evening! Bring the food and drink that YOU would enjoy!

We are sold out!

The Future of Music in LA

By Laurence Vittes

When I heard that the brilliant young cellist Boris Andiranov was coming to town last December with news of his next Cello Circus (i.e., Moscow International Cello Festival 2010), I knew he would eventually wind up playing in Torrance at Alexey Steele's. Whether you're in from Moscow or traveling with the Vienna Philharmonic, if you want to find late night, apres concert, classical music pleasures in LA you're bound to show up at Alexey Steele's monthly crave, classical music's version of a rave.


Boris is a 30-something, slouching in jeans, sexy Russian dream who plays the great Romantic concertos, this season with the great Valerie Gergiev in Saint Petersburg. It was a fantastic evening. Women swooned when Boris played Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov. Everybody dropped what they were holding when Boris played two extended fantasies by the eccentric Italian genius Giovanni Sollima so dizzingly difficult and magnificently dramatic and fast that there was near frenzy after each. He followed with a performance of Paganini's glorious Moses Variations that made the audience laugh and cry.

MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL Featuring Mischa Maisky, Yuri Bashmet, David Geringas and Julian Rachlin, 3 world premieres by rock-opera legend Alexey Rybnikov, the first-ever CelloBACH concert and Roger Moore narrating Carnival of the Animals. Bi-annual Festival follows on success of 2008 Festival devoted to Rostropovich.

There's info about the Festival on Alexey's site as well as a link to my article about Classical Underground for Gramophone magazine. Here's a brief excerpt from my article:

"By day, a 7,500-foot studio in a middle-of-nowhere industrial park 22 miles southeast of Walt Disney Concert Hall and the fashionable artists' lofts of downtown Los Angeles is Alexey Steele's place of work, hung with sensuous nudes and enormous landscapes.

"Once a month Steele shoots out, rave-like, a last-minute e-mail invitation to his friends. He tells them who the players and the composers will be. He reminds them to bring chairs and food. He warns them that this time the music will start on time, although it never does.

"The bright, shining crowd of as many as 400 actors, painters, scientists, musicians, writers and models, most of them young and beautiful, were clearly enjoying their classical music evening out on the town. Eager listeners surrounded the musicians every side, hangers-on moved around the periphery for different views, and smokers who went outside to enjoy their sinful pleasures could still hear strains of the glorious music floating through the night air."

In order to get on Alexey's e-mail list, visit classicalunderground.com. You never know who's going to show up!