Tuesday (9/29) in the online version of the Charlotte Creative Arts Examiner (North Carolina), Robin Edgar writes, “In prelude to the soul-stirring Russian music of ‘From the Volga to the Caspian: A Cultural Celebration,’ the Charlotte Symphony set the stage for its second classics series program with a free pre-concert cultural smorgasbord from Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Armenia.” The cultural events served connect the orchestra with the area’s Russian-speaking community. “Ticket-holders sampled treats such as Armenian sweet bread and pomegranate wine while entertained by local artists with Ukrainian folk dance, Russian music played by violinist Tatiana Karpova, and more. In addition to historical photo displays and video scenes of Yuri and Lara in ‘Dr. Zhivago,’ local artisans such as Ukrainian decorative woodworker, Roman Pankiv, displayed their wares. Guest conductor James Feddeck set the mood with the rousing overture from Alexander Borodin’s opera, Prince Igor (1870). … Feddeck continued to maintain the emotional fire of the night’s music with Dmitri Shostakovich’s emotional and politically tongue-in-cheek Symphony No.9.” The program also included Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with Karen Gomyo as soloist.
Posted September 30, 2009
