About the performers for June 25th

Courtney Jones, trumpet, an instant hit at CU, who frequently plays with the Golden State pops Orchestra, Southeast Symphony, MET LA Theater. Courtney completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance and Pedagogy at UCLA.

Laszlo Mezo, cello, is winner of several International competitions, and is a member of the Pacific Symphony.  László has forged a career as a soloist, recitalist, master teacher and chamber musician. He performs extensively in Europe, Asia and America, appearing in countries such as Hungary, Romania, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, France, Brazil and Japan.

Mikael Oganes, piano - CU favorite, who in addition to his virtuoso performances, continuously surprises and dazzles with his incredible piano transcriptions of major symphonic works.

John Astaire earned his Doctor of Music degree in percussion and is currently active as a teacher and performer. His primary teachers included Gerald Carlyss and Kenneth Watson, under whom he also studied the Hungarian cimbalom. John has been a guest with several musical ensembles across the U.S., as well as a performer at the Cimbalom World Association's 2003 World Congress. 


Soprano Oxana Senina recently performed the role of Queen Tye in the Long Beach Opera production of AKHNATEN. Not only an accomplished singer but a fine cellist as well, Ms. Senina earned undergraduate music degrees in both cello and vocal performance at the Chonkushov University as well as a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Music Academy in Moscow.

Diane Ketchie is not only a concert pianist but is also an accomplished singer. Of her dual talents as displayed in the opera, Orpheus In Love, Bernard Holland of THE NEW YORK TIMES said, “I can think of no one in the popular, Broadway or classical world who could do all the things Diane Ketchie does and do them so well." In the past few years Diane has appeared in concert in over forty states. Ms. Ketchie is proud to serve on both the Vocal Arts and Keyboard faculty at CSU Northridge.

Ilya Sergienko, is a professional music performer, composer, arranger and producer, who loves to explore new artistic opportunities. Ilya’s bright talent and stage presence make both his solo and group trumpet performances memorable. Ilya’s repertoire and knowledge of styles is extensive.

Steven Vanhauwaert, piano. Hailed by the Los Angeles Times for his "impressive clarity, sense of structure and monster technique", Steven Vanhauwaert has garnered a wide array of accolades, amongst which the Maurice Lefranc award, the Rotary Prize, the Galiot Prize and the USC Concerto Competition. Steven performs frequently throughout Europe, the US and last year China, both solo and in chamber music groups. His performances are broadcast regularly on K-MZT, K-CSN, K-USC, WHKB, W-UOT, K-UAT and KLARA.

May Night this coming Monday, the 16th - with LA Phil Piano Trio! - SOLD OUT!

WE ARE SOLD OUT!
Dear friends, we are thrilled to have an astonishingly impressive power trio making their CU debut this month, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Piano Trio:  Martin Chalifour, esteemed concertmaster and frequent solo violinist of the LA Philharmonic, Peter Stumpf, principal cellist of the LA Philharmonic and devoted chamber player, and Joanne Pearce Martin, principal keyboard master of the LA Philharmonic, will perform the magnificent Brahms Piano Trio #2 -- a preview of their upcoming concert at Disney Hall.

  

                                                   

The Angeles Saxophone Quartet makes a delightfully convincing musical argument for their instruments' place in the classical world.  Their playing of romantic and contemporary sax quartets will blow away thoughts of John Coltrane and Charlie Parker and leave you wondering why we don't hear more classical sax!

 

Also making his CU debut, international concert pianist and Naxos recording artist Markus Pawlik will perform Beethoven's Appassionata Sonata.

 

Most people who hear the name "Davidov" think of the Stradivarius cello now played by Yo-Yo Ma that famously used to belong to Jacqueline DuPre.  It got that name because it also used to belong to the Russian Karl Davidov, the greatest cellist of his day. A contemporary of Tchaikovsky, Davidov was an occasional composer and we will hear one of his rarely performed gems, the Concert Allegro, played by our young virtuoso Xian Zhuo, with Mary Au on piano.

For all the greedy pianists who wanted the drop-dead gorgeous melody from Rachmaninoff's cello sonata all to themselves without having to share it with a pesky cellist, the super-virtuoso pianist Arkady Volodos created a solo transcription which our own super-virtuoso, Harout Senekeremian, will very generously share with us. 

                                                  

                                      

  

As always - bring your spirits, food and drink for you and your friends to enjoy.  Please RSVP via Paypal. If you have problems with PayPal - don't wait - email us right away! 

 

******

We are most grateful to our supportive friends at

Steinway Piano Gallery West Hollywood 

for graciously providing us with their incomparable instrument.  

        

******          

Classical Underground Showcase:

JEREMY LIPKING 

An Unveiling of a new paining by Jeremy Lipking

 

We are enormously excited to showcase the newest work of a diehard "undergrounder" and one of the "official" CU painters in our notorious LA Art gang, our great friend Jeremy Lipking.    

  

   

"Flor de Muertos" 40" x 70" oil on canvas   

Jeremy is one of the leading forces in today's "Post Post-Modern" stage in contemporary American Art, the movement I call NOVOREALISM. One of the most successful and influential painters of his generation, his greatest strength perhaps is in declining to simply repeat what worked before, but to constantly explore and to expand his visual language.

Jeremy's new work is a formidable example of that search. Combining sophisticated tonal range with a delicately harmonized yet strong color rendition brings a visceral sense of glow to his austere compositional shapes, punctuated by a confidently rendered and moody figure with the edge of her black scarf emphasizing the features of the obscured sorrowful face. The energetic and fresh impasto foreground is anchored both visually and emotionally by the two empty bottles.

Jeremy's "Flor de Muertos" is a great testimony to the broad possibilities of true realism applied to seriously conceived thematic figure work, something that I think of as the most exciting frontier in our great contemporary movement.

in ART we trust!

WE ARE SOLD OUT!

May 16th programme notes

About the musicians in the program:

Enjoying her 10th season as the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Keyboardist, Joanne Pearce Martin performs with the orchestra on multiple keyboard instruments including the celesta, various synthesizers, and occasionally a Mac computer, in addition to the ubiquitous piano. Martin performs all over the world as soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist. Her playing has been described by the Los Angeles Times as possessing “unusual fervor and fluency” and “stirring virtuosity.”

Martin Chalifour began his tenure as Principal Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1995. He has appeared as soloist with conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, Sir Neville Marriner, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Chalifour and two of his Philharmonic colleagues, Joanne Pearce Martin and Peter Stumpf, met in 1981 while all three were studying at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia; they have joined forces to form the Los Angeles Philharmonic Piano Trio.

After serving 12 years as the Associate Principal Cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Peter Stumpf became the Principal Cellist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the start of the 2002/03 season. A dedicated chamber music musician, he is a member of the Johannes String Quartet and has appeared on chamber music series at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, as well as with the Boston Celebrity Series and the Da Camera Society in Los Angeles.

 








Xian Zhuo (卓賢) is an extraordinarily talented young international artist known for his stunning technique, sensitivity and superb artistry.  He has performed on three continents and shared stage with Mstislav Rostropovich and Seiji Ozawa.

German pianist Markus Pawlik has been performing in public throughout Europe, North America and Asia since age 7.  As well as playing for the first time at CU, new challenges for Markus this year include a debut with the Dallas Symphony, an upcoming post-earthquake tour of Japan, performing the Beethoven Hammerklavier Sonata for the first time and preparing for a new recording of chamber music works by Arthur Schnabel. 

Harout Senekeremian, pianist, is an eager participant in the performance of new music. Senekeremian continues to concertize in both solo and chamber concerts in Southern California as well as maintaining an active piano studio. He is a regular performer at CU.

Hong Kong born pianist Mary Au is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and the USC. Her collaboration with many renowned artists, including appearances in Columbia Artists Management Community Concerts, has been enthusiastically received. As a former executive of the GRAMMY Awards, Mary Au continues to dedicate herself to cross cultural boundaries and share her musical fabric with audiences worldwide.

The Angeles Saxophone Quartet, all music students from UCLA, has won a prestigious Gold Medal in the  2010 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, and recently won the Prize for Winds in the 2011 Coleman Chamber Music Competition in Pasadena, CA.

Christopher Elchico, soprano saxophone; Ryan Weston, alto saxophone; Umut Dursun, tenor saxophone; Andrew Barnhart, baritone saxophone

We are completely sold out!

April Night this coming Monday, the 18th - with a special appearance of Helen Jane Long - sold out!

                                                       

Dear friends, we are very excited that the L.A. Philharmonic's wonderful violinist Mark Kashper is making his first appearance at CU playing the gorgeous Franck Sonata, along with Kanae Matsumoto at the piano - a preview of their upcoming performance at Disney Hall. 

Our very good friend Jura Margulis, one of the finest Liszt players anywhere, is back in town to play the Mephisto Waltz and share his mad love for Wagner with his own transcription of the Funeral march from Gotterdammerung, a magnificent and moving farewell to the opera's hero, Siegfried. 
   

                              

Mendelssohn's Piano Trio in D minor led Schumann to dub him "the Mozart of the 19th century," and it's still one of the most popular trios in the 21st century.  Performing the first movement, our trio consists of Natalia Margulis from the Madrid Opera Orchestra on cello, Radu Pieptea on violin, and Natasha Rubin-Marin making her CU debut on piano.

  
                                                

Helen Jane Long is a fast-rising classical, film and tv composer from the UK.  She is bringing a few friends from "across the pond" - Yuri Kalnits, violin, Jonathan Howells, violin, Katherine Jenkinson, cello, Nick Holland, cello - to join her at the piano as she performs selections from her latest album of lovely contemporary classical pieces, "Embers."  Among Helen's many musical accomplishments, she assisted on the film score for "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.  
 

             

             

One of the highlights of last summer's Bowl season featured the LA Phil playing Bernstein's West Side Story Suite in all its jazzy glory.  CU's Mikael Oganes together with John Astaire has come up with a dazzling version for piano and percussion that will have your toes tapping and fingeres snapping along like the Jets and the Sharks...  what a cool way to end the night! 

    

              

  

                                                                            
As always - bring your spirits, food and drink for you and your friends to enjoy.  Please RSVP via Paypal. If you have problems with PayPal - don't wait - email us right away!  

    

******

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

  

          

  

Classical Underground Showcase:

ADRIAN GOTTLIEB

 

A Today, Los Angeles occupies a unique position as a leading center of the newly reborn and re-invigorated realist movement of contemporary American Art.  Marked by a staggering diversity of approaches, practices and aesthetic philosophies for understanding the reality of the visual world, a dynamic group of LA's top young talents is gaining wide recognition.

Among the most dangerous in this local and nationwide band of highly advanced figurative painters is artist Adrian Gottlieb. 

    

 

Dormir, oil on linen, 24" x 48"  

   

Successfully combining approaches of the Classical Masters with principles of Naturalist Tradition, Adrian's work bears a vivid, luminous quality in his multi-layer development of subtle yet thoroughly defined values, delivering cleanness of the unified form and a natural appearance, along with a somewhat detached contemplative tranquility in his imagery.

It is truly exciting to contemplate what damage this LA gang will inflict on the restive Art World!  

In ART we trust!

We are sold out!

    

April 18 Programme Notes

About the musicians performing in the program:

Our guest artist/composer 

Helen Jane Long is one of the very few young, successful, British female composers, as well as a classically-trained pianist.  Helen’s credits for TV and film are numerous, ranging from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, to cult films such as Surveillance, Out In The Cold, and scores for UK’s Channel 4, The BAFTA Awards and Fifth Gear TV programs. Helen has also composed music for a variety of commercials including Bosch, Barclay’s Bank, Mercedes, and Volkswagen.

She leapt onto a piano at the age of 4, training as a classical pianist, and also plays the clarinet, guitar, and cello. The phenomenal response from her fans provoked Helen to send a demo CD of her music to various record companies. She was signed almost instantly to Warner Bros. Records which resulted in her debut album, Porcelain, an expressive, inspiring and evocative collection of compositions. The album immediately hit the UK Charts in the top 5 and lodged there for 6 weeks while Classic FM in London named Helen the “Best New Composer of the Year”.

In between her efforts as a triathlete, Helen wrote and released the follow up to her major label debut, Embers, to critical acclaim. The album is getting major support in both the UK and US. Helen will be supporting the release with a U.S. performance tour with an impressive string quartet that will showcase Helen’s original music.

Her string quartet includes Yuri Kalnits, violin - an exceptional soloist and chamber musician; Jonathan Howells, violin - has worked with Andrew Lloyd-Webber and built an exceptional repution as an extremely versatile performer; Katherine Jenkinson, cello - a scholar of the Royal Academy of Music, appeared and recorded with such artists as Pavarotti and Boccelli, Nick Holland, cello - one of the most internationally respected cellists has performed with the most prestigious orchestras and artists.
                                                 ***

Mark Kashper, Associate Principal Second Violin of LA Phil, graduate of the Moscow Conservatoire where he was one of the last and favored students of the legendary Professor David Oistrakh, Mr. Kashper also graduated from the Leningrad Conservatoire. An active recitalist and avid chamber music player, Kashper performs extensively throughout the United States and internationally.

Jura Margulis has performed with the Russian National Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl, the Montreal Symphony, the Prague Symphony, 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.

Natasha (Rubin) Marin enjoys working both as a soloist and in ensembles. She has been performing extensively in Russia (including venues such as St. Petersburg Philharmonic Hall) and in the United States. She was featured on the radio, TV and recordings.

Radu Pieptea, a Julliard graduate and Fulbright Scholar, currently records in the studios for movies, television, and records and performs regularly with the LA Philharmonic,  LA Opera and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

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

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.

Mikael Oganes, pianist - CU favorite, who in addition to his virtuoso performances, continuously surprises and dazzles with his incredible piano transcriptions of major symphonic works.

John Astaire earned his Doctor of Music degree in percussion at Indiana University and is currently active as a teacher and performer. His primary teachers included Gerald Carlyss and Kenneth Watson, under whom he also studied the Hungarian cimbalom. John has been a guest with several musical ensembles across the U.S., as well as a performer at the Cimbalom World Association's 2003 World Congress.

Programme:

Franz Liszt

Petrarch's Sonnet 104

Mephisto Valse (adaptation by Jura Margulis)

Jura Margulis - piano

Cesar Franck

Violin Sonata, A Major, 3rd and 4th movement

Mark Kashper - violin

Kanae Matsumoto - piano

Richard Wagner

Funeral March from Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)

Jura Margulis transcription

Jura Margulis - piano

***

Helen Jane Long

Selections from the new CD "Ember"

Helen Jane Long - piano

Yuri Kalnits - violin

Jonathan Howells - violin

Katherine Jenkinson - cello

Nick Holland - cello

Felix Mendelssohn

Piano trio No. 1 op. 49, 1st movement

Natasha (Rubin) Marin - piano

Radu Pieptea - violin

Natalia Margulis - cello

Leonard Bernstein

Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Piano and Percussion Transcription by M.Oganes and J. Astaire

Mikael Oganes - piano

John Astaire - percussion 

March Night This Coming Monday, the 21st - Sold out!

                          

Dear friends, 

Our March Classical Underground program will journey from the 17^th century to the 21^st,through geography from Argentina to Armenia and the Spain of yesterday and today, with musical styles from Bach to Khachaturian to Navarro. 

 

We are very fortunate to have the finest interpreter of Argentine piano music living right here in LA, CU favorite Eduardo Delgado, who will play the rhythmically riveting first piano sonata of his compatriot Alberto Ginastera.

You may have seen him profiled on 60 Minutes and on KABC news the last time he played at CU, though most of us were probably not invited to hear his recent performance at Vice President's Joe Biden's house.  But it is always a very special occasion when Rex Lewis Clark shares his great love of music with us. Rex will play a Chopin Nocturne and his own arrangement of a Schubert Impromptu.

                                          

 

Bach's eternal works with their universal musical material have thrived as transcriptions for many instruments, and when his chorale preludes are played by virtuoso bassoonist John Steinmetz, you might believe that's what Johann Sebastian had in mind all along. What better way to celebrate one of mankind's greatest geniuses on his birthday, which is March 21^st!

The timeless Armenian spirit brilliantly shines through the vibrant and lush themes of this nation's iconic composer Aram Khachaturian, and will be brought to life at CU by the wonderful musicians of Armenian heritage Aroussiak Baltaian, violin and Pepi Pilibossian, piano.  The duo will send us dancing into the night with some Gypsy violin by way of Spain, with Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen.  For a historic teaser, check out Pablo Sarasate himself way back in 1904:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABm7nMVyNh4

                                                     

 Some of the most intensely romantic themes that Rachmaninoff ever wrote are packed into his cello sonata, more rightly called a sonata for cello and piano as the romantic splendor and virtuosic demands are shared equally... in this case between cellist Peter Myers, making his CU debut, and Ryan McCullough, who made a great impression at our last CU gathering.

Composer Oscar Navarro, who flew from Spain to be with us, will present his Jumper Clarinet arranged for French Horn and Piano, performed by Pablo Ortiz De Urbina and Harout Senekeremian. And finally, Harout will finish the evening with the super-virtuoso Sonatine by Charles-Valentin Alkan.        

              

  

                                                                             
As always - bring your spirits, food and drink for you and your friends to enjoy.  Please RSVP via Paypal. If you have problems with PayPal - don't wait - email us right away!   The full program and the list of musicians is in the post below. 

******

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

          

 

                          

Classical Underground Showcase:

VADIM ZANGINIAN   

A student of my beloved "Russian School" in painting from Erevan, Armenia, Vadim Zanginian is an art teacher and artist for whom interactions with classical music are just as important, from the standpoint of artistic execution or "form", as the subject matter or "content" in his work.

 

Aram Khachaturian, oil on canvas, 18" x 24"  

   

 In ART we trust!


We are sold out!