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Russian Lyricism

April 29, 2025, 10:00 pm

Sergei Rachmaninoff looks over his shoulder at the camera at the piano at Villa Senar

Sergei Rachmaninoff at the piano at Villa Senar (Photo courtesy Staatsarchiv Luzern)

This program emphasizes the passion and the lyricism of 19th- and early 20th-century Russian music. For an introductory taste, the program begins with a short variation set that Mikhail Glinka wrote on a theme by Mozart, adding a Russian spin to a Classical tune. Next, the beauty of the Russian language and the spirit of the music from this nation is showcased in a set of songs by a wide range of Russian composers. Finally, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s wonderful though rarely performed Quintet in B-flat major features the sparingly heard but effective combination of piano and four wind instruments.

Playlist

Mikhail Glinka: Variations on a theme of Mozart for Piano
Michael Stephen Brown, piano

Mily Balakirev: “Song of the Goldfish” for Voice and Piano
Erika Baikoff, soprano; Gilles Vonsattel, piano

Modest Mussorgsky: “Where are you, dear star?” for Voice and Piano
Erika Baikoff, soprano; Gilles Vonsattel, piano

Sergei Rachmaninoff: “Arion” for Voice and Piano, Op. 34, No. 5
Erika Baikoff, soprano; Gilles Vonsattel, piano

Mikhail Glinka: “The Lark” from A Farewell to St. Petersburg for Voice and Piano
Erika Baikoff, soprano; Gilles Vonsattel, piano

Sergei Rachmaninoff: “These Summer Nights” for Voice and Piano, Op. 14, No. 5
Erika Baikoff, soprano; Gilles Vonsattel, piano

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: “Does not the wind, blowing from the heights” from In Spring for Voice and Piano, Op. 43, No. 2
Erika Baikoff, soprano; Gilles Vonsattel, piano

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Quintet in B-flat major for Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano
Adam Walker, flute; David Shifrin, clarinet; Marc Goldberg, bassoon; David Byrd-Marrow, horn; Michael Stephen Brown, piano

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Meet the Host

Elliott Forrest is a Peabody Award winning broadcaster & producer. He is heard on New York’s Classical Music Radio Station 105.9FM – WQXR, WQXR.org and on WNYC. He’s been on the radio in New York City for 30 years. Elliott is the host and producer of the national radio concerts of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He regularly produces and designs large-scale symphonic concerts include those with the Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, The New York Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Pasadena Pops and the Little Orchestra Society in a variety of venues, including the Hollywood Bowl, Philadelphia’s Mann Center and Lincoln Center. For 3 years he curated and hosted a chamber music series at The Rubin Museum in NYC. He’s hosted more the 60 concerts at Carnegie Hall including all 4 years of the original SPRING FOR MUSIC concerts. He directs the annual radio drama of A CHRISTMAS CAROL for NY Public Radio, past cast members include: Jefferson Mays, Mark Linn-Baker, Brian Cox, F. Murray Abraham, David Hyde Pierce and Tony Roberts. As a popular orchestra narrator, he’s been featured in Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals, Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale and Oedipus Rex, Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra and Noah’s Flood. He’s Artistic Director of ArtsRock, in Rockland County, NY presenting concerts, conversations and family programming. He was a “Voice” of CNN and LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER and regularly hosts shows on PBS. For 12 years he was on the A&E Television Network as host of Breakfast with the Arts & Biography. Featured on the Grammy Award winning comedy album WTWP Classical Talkity-Talk Radio with Peter Schickele. As a teenager, he appeared on THE GONG SHOW on NBC. BA in Theater from the University of Texas, Austin.

Through the Night with Peter van de Graaff

Through the Night with Peter van de Graaff

Russian Lyricism

Playlist