Conversations on Russian Music:

A four-part series of performances and discussions on musical masterpieces by Russian composers: Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

Presented by
Russian Connection / Russian Club @ MIT
and the Educational Bridge Project

----------

Part 1: Mussorgsky

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
7:00-8:00 PM
Killian Hall
Room 14W-111, at MIT Hayden Library Bldg
160 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA

Entrance donation: $5

Features Maestro Igor Uryash, an outstanding pianist and professor from the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Maestro Uryash is invited to the U.S. to participate in the 16th festival of the Educational Bridge Project, a Boston-based organization which provides forums for Russian-American collaborative initiatives in arts and culture. Brilliant interpreter of classical music, Maestro Uryash will play “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Mussorgsky.

Dr. Ludmilla Leibman, a Russian-born musicologist and the Executive Director of the Educational Bridge Project, will speak on the history of the “Pictures at an Exhibition”
and explain how to understand hidden meaning of its musical language.

Bio:

* Igor Uryash:

Laureate of the International piano competitions Igor Uryash studied at the St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Conservatory. Lustrous solo performer with extensive repertoire, maestro Uryash regularly appears as soloist and chamber ensemble performer throughout Europe, USA, Canada, and Asia. Over the years he has collaborated with such world famous musicians as Mstislav Rostropovich, Maxim Vengerov, and Valery Gergiev. Often the first interpreter of the new music, Uryash has participated in numerous international music festivals. He maintains active performing schedule while continuing his work at the Conservatory, and by so doing, develops further prestigious traditions of the Russian piano school established in 19th century.

* Ludmilla Leibman:

Ludmilla Leibman – pianist, music theorist, and lecturer – developed her teaching career in two countries. In Russia she taught for thirteen years in the theory/composition department of her alma mater, the Saint Petersburg (Leningrad) Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. In the United States, after receiving her doctorate from Boston University, she taught music theory there from 1998 to 2006. In addition, Dr. Leibman is the Executive Director of The Educational Bridge Project, an organization she founded in 1997 with the goal of providing forums for cultural exchanges between United States and Russia. The Educational Bridge Project was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 2006.

For more information, please contact Sergey Nikolenko.