Cellist Francisco Vila
A special free concert presented by The SCC, Newton at Home and the Saul B. and Naomi R. Cohen Foundation with virtuosic Ecuadorian cellist Francisco Vila and Ukrainian pianist Oleksandr Poliykov in a program featuring music by Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann and Sibelius.
Reception to follow.
PROGRAM
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Sonata for Cello and Piano in A Major, No. 3, Op. 69
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
Fantasisestücke for Cello and Piano, Op. 73
Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Valse Triste, arr. for Cello and Piano, Op. 44
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Sonata for Cello and Piano in F Major, No. 2, Op.99
ABOUT FRANCISCO
Sensitivity, effortless technique and intensity of sound characterize the playing of Ecuadorian cellist Francisco Vila. He began playing the cello at age 8 and had his solo debut with orchestra at 14. Having concertized throughout Europe, North and South America, Vila has been described as “…an exceptionally talented young cellist and musician. He is heading for an important place in the world of music” (Janos Starker, cellist). The Bloomington Herald-Times said of his performance of Lalo’s Cello Concerto that Vila “… displayed absolute command on stage… perfectly executed technical passages and induced the orchestra with his energy… tenderly revealed to us the romanticism of this concerto.”
ABOUT OLEKSANDR POLIYKOV
Alex Poliykov, concert pianist and a conductor from Ukraine. He received Master’s in education/piano performance and finished assistantship at National Music Academy of Ukraine, Kiev, as a student of Tatiana Roschina. From 2007, he also became a student of Michael Lewin at the Boston Conservatory, he finished Artist Diploma program .In addition to his piano career, he became a student of People’s Artist of Ukraine, conductor of the National Opera Theater, professor, Allin Vlasenko, and received Master’s Degree in conducting, from National Music Academy of Ukraine, in July 2014.
Most recent awards at the competitions are – MacKenzie award during the IKIF2012 in New York City (2012), third prize at the Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht (the Netherlands, 2011), second prize at the Franz Liszt Piano Competition, Bayreuth-Weimar (Germany 2009), first prize at the Steinway Society Competition in Boston (2008) and third prize at the International Piano competition in memory of Vladimir Horowitz (Ukraine 2007).Oleksandr Poliykov regularly appears at concert venues around the world. He has given solo recitals in Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Italy, Norway, Brazil and the U.S., and has played with such orchestras as the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and Kiev Philharmonic, Radio-Philarmonic Orchestra of Holland. In 2010 he performed both Liszt piano concertos with the Newton Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of James Orent. He gives masterclasses in the U.S. and Europe, and gives educational concert-lectures in elementary schools, music schools and conservatories. He has been serving as an assistant piano faculty at the National Music Academy of Ukraine from 2010.
