Initiated by Grammy-nominated conductor Vladimir Gorbik, Breaking Boundaries is a unique project geared toward uniting the shared creative efforts of American and Russian composers and performers during a time of heightened political tension. The artistic vision for this concert places in front of the audience the human desire for beauty, transcending cultural barriers, expressed through a mutual heritage of music. Made up of performers who hail from Anglophone and/or Slavic countries, the strings of the Capital Symphony Orchestra will realize the diverse program chosen by Gorbik. In the words of the conductor: At my invitation, Adelphi University professor and composer Nicholas Reeves, will begin the evening with a brief lecture on the need for citizens from different nations, presenting the potential for conflict, to develop an ongoing dialogue through numerous musical collaborations.
Breaking Boundaries, the first in a series of concerts dedicated to peaceful international relations, will be premiered at St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church (411 East 66th Street and 1st Avenue, New York, NY).
The Capital Symphony Orchestra, Tania Stavreva (Pianist) | Video,
Hear the CSO USA: Video-Adagio for Stings
The concert will take place on October 30 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church (411 East 66th Street and 1st Avenue, New York, NY).
Comprised of two parts, the evening opens with Peter Ilyich Tchaikovskys Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48. This composition is a prime example of the composers ability to unite the artistic ideals of Eastern and Western concert music. Tchaikovskys works continue to be well-loved by Americans, while never abandoning their deeply rooted Russian provenance.
In the second part of the concert is the music of another Slav, Bulgarian composer Alexander Vladigerov. His Variations on the Bulgarian Folk Song Dilmano, Dilbero, Op. 2 for solo piano will be performed by New York based multi-award winning Bulgarian-born piano dynamo (Time Out New York) Tania Stavreva. Her energetic playing has been described as Unique! (AXS.com), World-Class (Classicalite News), and Edgy Stavrevas got rhythm (The Huffington Post).
Near the end of the concert, Reeves Concertino Campane for solo piano and string orchestra will receive its premiere performance. Specifically written for Stavreva, this work is based on the acoustics of bells found throughout different cultures, promising to showcase her rhythmic intensity at the keyboard.
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On a beautiful October day I got to meet Tania in person. Below is an organized summary of our conversation:
1. Could you tell me a little bit about the concert you have coming up (much of this information, and much more, is in the above press release)?
I am very excited to be a part of this unique concert and also to have the opportunity to perform the world premiere of “Concertino Compane” by acclaimed American composer Nicholas Reeves for solo piano and string orchestra. I am looking forward to be collaborating also with Grammy nominated Russian conductor Vladimir Gorbik and the Capitol Symphony Orchestra New York branch. In addition to the Concertino, I will be performing also Variations on a Bulgarian Folk Song “Dilmano, Dilbero”, Op. 2 by Bulgarian composer Alexander Vladigerov.
3. I’ve always wondered how Beethoven made the compositions he did being deaf. Do you have thoughts about his music?
It is also impossible to name one. They are all so different. It depends on the point of view. For example, in popular music, success is determined by the sales and number of people showing up. But to me, a performnace could be memorable even in an intimate setting. Sometimes I play at 50 people size intimate salon or chamber music hall and sometimes I play in front of 1000 + audience. To me what’s memorable is how I feel and how was the energy at the space and how did connecting to the audience felt.
Pianists always use a different piano – we don’t carry around the instrument we know like a trumpeter of a tubist.
Many studies show that when I child is playing a musical instrument, the brain develops differently, it is basically the full body workout for the brain and no other activity develops it as comprehensively as music, not even chess lol. Here it is explain more in depth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng