When it comes to virtuoso Russian composer Rachmaninov, there are few pianists in the world that can be defined as a specialist in his music. However, Alexey Botvinov, the most famous Ukrainian pianist and one of the world’s current piano greats, is one of them. And this September he will be performing in Sydney for Live at The Independent: Concert and Cake Sundays.
The live music experience is certain to be a real treat. It includes complimentary cake from French Patisserie Madame and Yves and will feature the music of Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Ukrainian composer Silvestrov as performed by Alexey Botvinov. It is a not-to-be-missed performance by the man that is the people’s artist of Ukraine.
Get your tickets to support Ukraine and experience “a real firework at the piano”.
The series of concerts at Live at The Independent have afforded Sydneysiders the chance to experience music like it used to be heard in the salons of old, where friends got together, played and conversed. Speaking to Live at Yours’ cofounder Vladimir Fanshil earlier in the year, he said, “We talk to the audience, we get the audience to ask the artists questions, we get them involved, express their feelings.”
The deeply romantic program that Botvinov has prepared marries compositions from across the Romantic period, an era that moved away from traditional forms to create music that was more emotional, dramatic and placed a greater emphasis on melody. The Romantic composers also created virtuosic piano music, which Botvinov is sure to include in the program to the delight of classical music fans keen on seeing a master at work.
Across his three-decade career, Alexey Botvinov has performed in more than 45 countries, won countless competitions and performed innumerable ballets. For a time he was the Artistic Director of Odessa National Opera Theater, and his skill and talent has seen him create innovative projects like “Piano Light Show”, “4 Elements”, “Piano and Drums” and a fourth that synthesised theatre with a classical concert.
In 2015, he was awarded the title “People’s Artist of Ukraine”—the highest artistic achievement in the country. He remains one of Ukraine’s great cultural ambassadors.
The Independent Theatre is a heritage-listed venue; a hidden gem in North Sydney that has blended old-world charm and style with recent upgrades that make it a stand-out live music venue. For Concert and Cake Sundays, the Independent Theatre welcomes audiences with complimentary cake for performances that are intimate and world-class. Tea, coffee and Champagne are all available for purchase.
Alexey Botvinov’s performance takes place on Sunday 18 September at 3pm. All proceeds from his performance will go to him and his family back in Ukraine. A ticket to Concert and Cake Sundays is a small price to pay to witness what the Ukrainian press calls a “symbol of high spirit” and a “true mark for (the) authentic sense of music”.