Piano Diva performs Rachmaninoff in Brevard Philharmonic opener

From Brevard Philharmonic:

Piano Diva performs Rachmaninoff in Brevard Philharmonic opener

The Brevard Philharmonic, our county’s own professional symphony orchestra, debuts its 40th anniversary season on Sunday, September 11th at 3PM at the Porter Center at Brevard College. The soloist, Marina Lomazov, has been called “A sorceress.” The Salt Lake City Tribune has dubbed her, “A diva of the piano,” and she will demonstrate her stunning musicality when she joins the Philharmonic with the moving, Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2.

The Philharmonic opens the afternoon with another Russian, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and his Symphony No.4 in F minor. This work was written soon after the composer had acquired a financial backer, the wealthy widow, Nadezhda Von Meck. “I’ve never yet felt such love for any of my things,” said Tchaikovsky of the piece. Such enthusiasm was unusual for this composer who typically expressed great dissatisfaction with his works. The piece carries the listener from gloom to melancholy to slow recovery to life affirming energy, and ultimately concludes with Tchaikovsky’s prescription for happiness.

The Concerto No.2 is one of Rachmaninoff’s most enduringly popular pieces and the work that established his fame as a concert composer. Written as he was emerging triumphantly from a period of writer’s block and depression, the Concerto was dedicated to the physician who had shepherded him out of his dark times.

Russian Masters are in the spotlight for this first Philharmonic concert of the year. With the Rachmaninoff the Ukrainian/American soloist, Marina Lomazov,brings her own personal brand of passion and charisma to the afternoon. The youngest ever first prize winner at the All-Kiev Piano Competition is a recording artist who has performed with the great orchestras of the world. The Cleveland Plain Dealer calls her, “A mesmerizing risk taker.” When she played for a venue in Medford, Oregon, the audience refused to let her off the stage for intermission. And the New York Times calls her,”Dazzling.”

Join Dr. Portnoy at 2pm in the Scott Commons at the Porter Center for Illuminations, a pre-concert talk

The Brevard Philharmonic is a non profit organization comprised of local and regional musicians, presenting six concerts annually at Brevard College’s Porter Center for the Performing Arts under the baton of Donald Portnoy, its artistic director and conductor. Its mission is to foster in the community and in our schools an appreciation for classical music and the performing arts.

Individual tickets are $25 to $35 per concert. Season concert packages are also available. Call 828-884-4221 for details. Or order with our new “pick your seat” option at brevardphilharmonic.org.