Beyond NYC: Sparkill Concert Series in Memory of a Great Artist

All Tchaikovsky program including breathtaking Piano Trio in A Minor and Concert Suite “The Nutcracker “ on Sunday December 9, 2018 at 3 pm

Vassily Primakov, Yves Dharamraj, Filip Pogády / Images courtesy of the artists

Presented by Sparkill Concert Series and GetClassical, “In Memory of a Great Artist” an all Tchaikovsky program is a wonderful holiday treat for music lovers. The program features pianist Vassily Primakov, violinist Filip Pogády, cellist Yves Dharamraj, and guest artists, Oxana Mikhailoff and Asiya Korepanova. Korepanova will also display her original artwork – a collection of 18 drawings – inspired by the pieces that make up Tchaikovsky’s Op.72.

While no-one can imagine Winter Holiday time without the eternal music from the Nutcracker, the rest of the program is a thought-provoking and serious compositions perfectly fitting for the concert in memory a beloved composer. The truly international group of musicians assembled for this concert is a testimony of the universal power of great music and of Tchaikovsky’s enormous contribution to this art genre.

Click here for tickets.

Cellist Yves Dharamraj / Image courtesy of the artist

Captivating his audiences with a “primer of technical feats” (New York Sun), and his warm, lush tone “that might be described as something akin to rich old wood” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), Yves Dharamraj , a Franco-American cellist, has earned a worldwide reputation as a dynamic cellist who blends an immaculate command of the instrument with deep musical understanding to express his fresh and elegant interpretations.

Violinist Filip Pogády / Image courtesy of the artist

Filip Pogády, a Slovakian – Austrian violinist, has been praised by the press for the beauty of his tone and his “lightning-like virtuosity”. Pogády has performed in some of the most renowned concert venues such as Lincoln Center New York, Rudolphinum Prague, Konzerthaus Vienna, Tel Aviv Opera House or the Lotte Hall in Seoul. He had also appeared on TV including as a guest starring on Louis CK’s popular TV-show “Louie” where he acted as a subway violinist.

In recent years, Vassily Primakov, born in Russia, has been hailed as a pianist of world class importance. Gramophone wrote that “Primakov’s empathy with Chopin’s spirit could hardly be more complete,” and the American Record Guide stated: “Since Gilels, how many pianists have the right touch? In Chopin, no one currently playing sounds as good as this! This is a great Chopin pianist.” Music Web-International called Primakov’s Chopin concertos CD “one of the great Chopin recordings of recent times. These are performances of extraordinary power and beauty.” In 2012 he was awarded a prestigious Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant.

Pianist Vassily Primakov / Image courtesy of the artist

Primakov is recording prolifically and by now has released over 30 albums. His recording won him a wide recognition and following of music fans. The Classical Recording Foundation had named him “Young Artist of the Year” in 2007. Later in 2009, his album of Chopin Mazurkas was selected by the National Public Radio as ‘Best of the Year”. The success in recording led Primakov to found with his duo partner Natalia Lavrova, a new recording company, L.P. Classics Inc. in 2011.

Pianist Oxana Mikhailoff / Photo by Paul Royce

Oxana Mikhailoff, a Russian-born American pianist of an extraordinary talent, is known for her vast repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary composers. She is a second-prize winner at the Martha Argerich International Piano Festival in 2003. In addition to her appearances at the acclaimed music halls around the world from Argentina to North America and Europe, she is a recognized educator maintaining an active teaching career in Westchester, NY. Mikhailoff is an artistic director of Midland Concert Series at the Bronxville Women’s Club in Bronxville, NY. Her artistic vision for the Midland Concert Series is driven by her mission to bring world-class musicians to perform in Westchester, NY.

Asiya Korepanova, another Russian-born pianist, performs regularly in New York City and is known to play the complete 24 Franz Liszt Etudes at the same recital or a cycle of Rachmaninoff’s sonatas. Her fascination with the music cycles led her to launch ‘Festival Baltimore’, a two-week chamber music series and summer academy with a distinct program of complete works by composers working in various genres. The Festival premiered in June 2017 and is now in its third year. The festival is gaining good vibes making Korepanova excited by the audience response.

Pianist Asiya Korepanova / photo by Emil Matveev

For the concert on December 9 at Union Arts Center, Korepanova is displaying her original artwork – a collection of 18 drawings – inspired by the pieces that make up Tchaikovsky’s up Op.72. Korepanova has recently shared her artistic inspirations in an interview with GetClassical.

Union Arts Center in Sparkill, NY is a unique hybrid space with beautiful architectural interiors in a restored historic firehouse. It houses an art gallery, a library and an inviting concert hall upstairs with a Yamaha DCFIIISM4 Pro 9’ piano with Disklavier, a custom-designed sound system for excellent acoustics, and an elegant atmosphere.

The Sparkill Concert series will continue in January 2019. Check this site for the next program.

December concert ticket information: