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Stage: Hot Ticket
[Photo by Robert Smith]
The Russian Heritage Ensemble
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By JOHN FLEMING
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 2, 2000
Russian ensemble draws on two heritages
They call themselves the Russian Heritage Ensemble, but the music won't be all Russian. "The first half of our program will be Russian, and the second half will be American," said violinist Eugene Bazhanov. "It's symbolic, because we're all from Russia, but we're Americans now."
Bazhanov, a member of the Florida Orchestra, joins with four colleagues to give the ensemble's debut concert at 3 p.m. Sunday in the new music center of St. Petersburg Junior College, 6605 Fifth Ave. N. The program includes piano music of Tchaikovsky, songs by Rachmaninoff, a suite for violin and piano from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, songs from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and violin pieces by Copland and Barber.
Four of the members of the group are, from left, pianist Vladimir Khokhlov, violinist Natasha Bazhanov (also a member of the orchestra and Eugene's ex-wife), soprano Lena Lewenson and Bazhanov. The fifth member is pianist Olga Glick.
"I think one advantage we have is being able to bring people some Russian works that are rarely heard," said Bazhanov, noting that having a singer in the group allows it to explore the rich Russian vocal repertoire that is relatively unfamiliar to American concertgoers.
The ensemble has three concerts scheduled this season. Tickets are $12, or $33 for all three concerts. Call (727) 573-7646.
-- JOHN FLEMING, Times Performing Arts Critic
[Times files]
Elena Martinson and Andrei Ustinov, former members of Russia's Kirov Ballet, perform with their students in the Chamber Ballet's fall program.
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On their toes
Andrei Ustinov and Elena Martinson, at right, former members of Russia's Kirov Ballet who now have a dance studio in St. Petersburg, perform with their students in the Chamber Ballet's fall program at the Palladium Theater.
The program opens with excerpts from La Bayadere, with classic choreography of Marius Petipa. Also on the agenda are Joanie Stewart's Rhapsody, to a Paganini score, and Peter Kalivas' Shadowdance, to music by the new age electronic group Shadowfax.
The Chamber Ballet performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Palladium. Tickets are $8 and $12. Call (727) 822-3590.
-- JOHN FLEMING, Times performing arts critic
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