An array of symphonic and chamber concerts, keyboard recitals and a colloquia focused on two centuries of Russian music will be presented during a weeklong celebration beginning April 15 by the AmerKlavier Studio at DePaul University’s School of Music.

The musical fest, titled “Grand Piano à la Russe,” was conceived by the AmerKlavier Studio’s indefatigable founder, the internationally renowned pianist Eteri Andjaparidze. Talented students, past and present, as well as members of DePaul’s music faculty will participate in the celebration.

In all, eight programs will be offered. Free and open to the public, these events will be principally presented at DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus in the Concert and Recital Halls, 800 and 804 West Belden Ave. respectively.

“Grand Piano à la Russe” is prompted by Andjaparidze’s conviction that her students would benefit tremendously from an in-depth exploration of Russia’s musical culture. She notes that DePaul boasts “deep Russian piano roots.” Revered composer Alexandr Tcherepnin and beloved pianist Dmitry Paperno both preceded Andjaparidze as members of the DePaul music faculty roster.

“I have been thrilled to share my artistic fascination with the splendors of Russian music, art, literature and culture with my closest musical associates, my students,” says Andjaparidze. “Together we will embrace our audiences with our keen appreciation and interpretation of this incredible musical treasury.”

Opening the celebration on April 15 at 3 p.m. is an orchestral concert performed by the Oistrach Symphony Orchestra, led by its music director Mina Zikri. The orchestra’s membership includes mostly DePaul alumni, but also local performers from Northwestern and Roosevelt universities. Zikri is himself a DePaul alumnus. Andjaparadize is the featured soloist in a performance of Tchaikovsky’s popular Piano Concerto No. 1. The program opens with Schostakovich’s “Festive” Overture.

Many of the major composers associated with Russian romanticism and modernism will be represented during this week of performances. It was the early nineteenth century composer Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857), widely regarded as Russia’s first “break-though” composer who found acceptance for his “nationalistic” works in the West.

Following in Glinka’s footsteps, the next generation of Russian composers, including Tchaikovsky and Mussorgsky, continued to write music that was Russian in style, flavor and inspiration. Today it is Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998), Russia’s most celebrated contemporary composer, who is widely seen as a direct successor to Schostakovich and this rich musical heritage. Music by the aforementioned composers as well as pieces by Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Scriabin and others will be played throughout the week’s festivities.

This Russian fest concludes with a salon musicale “At the Samovar” on April 22, in the lobby of the landmark Belden-Stratford Hotel, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West. This event features Russian Romance, a sentimental category of Russian art song and provides the extraordinary opportunity to view an exhibition of paintings and drawings by prominent artist Ibragim Litinsky (1908-1958); these works are from the private collection of his daughter, Chicago resident Alina Litinskaya. Traditional Russian tea and snacks will be served.

Shortly after joining the DePaul Music School faculty in 2001, Andjaparidze organized The United Sounds of America, an extensive three-month-long retrospective of American music “as a tribute to the culture of her new home and a response to the 9/11 attack.” Out of these concerts her AmerKlavier Studio, an uncommon program of piano instruction, was formed. Andjaparidze has developed a course of study, which seeks to address the individual strengths and skills of her students through special artistic and educational projects and concert and colloquium series. According to Andjaparidze, “by incorporating the real artistic performing life experience into the educational process, AmerKlavier creates a nourishing cultural environment for young piano talents to flourish.”

AmerKlavier Musical Offering
Eteri Andjaparidze, Artistic Director
Grand Piano à la Russe
Russian Music Celebration at DePaul
April 15 – 22, 2007

Sunday, April 15, 3:00 p.m., DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W Belden Ave.
Piano Tsar
Schostakovich – Festive Overture, in A Major, op. 96
Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No 1, in B flat Minor, Op. 23
performed by Eteri Andjaparidze, piano, Oistrach Symphony Orchestra, Mina Zikri, conductor

Monday, April 16, 8:00 p.m., DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W Belden Ave.
Piano Troika
Trios for Piano and Strings by Glinka, Rachmaninoff, Schostakovich, Schnittke
performed by the Jupiter Trio, DePaul alumni, and students

Tuesday, April 17, 8:00p.m., DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W Belden Ave.
Piano Icons
Solo Piano Music by Mussorgsky, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Medtner, Stravinsky,
Prokofiev, Schostakovich, Kabalevsky
performed by the AmerKlavier Studio

Wednesday, April 18, 8:00 p.m., DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W Belden Ave.
Piano Kaleidoscope
Piano Vocal and Instrumental Chamber Music by A. Rubinstein, Tchaikovsky,
Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Prokofiev
performed by Eteri Andjaparidze, piano, Olga Bojovic, soprano, Jane Bunnell, mezzo-soprano, Mary Stolper, flute, Elias Goldstein, violin, Rami Solomonov, viola

Thursday, April 19, 6:00 p.m., DePaul Recital Hall, 804 W Belden Ave.
Piano Tableaux
Poetic Images of Etudes-Tableaux, Op. 39, by Rachmaninoff - Presentation by Stephen Cook

Thursday, April 19, 8:00 p.m., DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W Belden Ave.
Piano Mosaic
Tchaikovsky: The Seasons, Duo Piano Suites by Arensky and Rachmaninoff
performed by Eteri Andjaparidze and the AmerKlavier Studio

Saturday, April 21, Noon, DePaul Recital Hall, 804 W Belden Ave.
Russian Album Leaves
Colloquium and Documentaries on Great Russian Artists;
Russian Music for Cinema - Presentation by Shota Papava

Sunday, April 22, 4:00 p.m.
the Belden-Stratford Hotel, 2300 N Lincoln Park West
At the Samovar
Salon Musicale and Exhibition of Paintings from the Private Collection of Alina Litinskaya