Image: Parashkevov-Kislenko Duo
On Saturday, November 17, violinist Chavdar Parashkevov and pianist Natasha Kislenko will perform the Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Minor by Leonid Nikolayev; selections from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, arranged by Jascha Heifetz; Three Preludes, by George Gershwin, arranged by Jascha Heifetz; Adagietto for Violin and Piano by Gustav Mahler, arranged by Otto Wittenbecher; and Pancho Vladigerov’s Rachenitza, Op. 18. Admission is free.
The acclaimed duo Parashkevov—Kislenko was established in 2009. Since then they have toured extensively with concerts in Germany, Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey, and USA, in addition to live radio broadcasts in Sofia, Bulgaria and Houston, TX and a televised recital in Sofia. In 2011 the duo released their debut CD, Russian Sonatas, and received many highly praised reviews. In 2018 they released their new CD, Beethoven. Brahms. Mahler.
Program Details
NATASHA KISLENKO, PIANO
(1878-1942)
- Allegro animato
- Andante con moto
- Vivace
(1898-1937)
Arr. Jascha Heifetz
- Summertime
- My Man’s Gone Now
- Bess, You Is My Woman Now
- It Ain’t Necessarily So
- Tempo di Blues
Arr. Jascha Heifetz
- Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
- Andante con moto e poco rubato
- Allegro ben ritmato e deciso
(1860-1911)
Arr. Otto Wittenbecher
(1899-1978)
The Performers
Natasha Kislenko, pianist, was born in Moscow, holds graduate degrees from the Moscow Tschaikowsky Conservatory and Southern Methodist University (TX), and earned her DMA Degree from Stony Brook University (NY). She has concertized in Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the U. S., and has been prizewinner in piano competitions in both Europe and the U.S. Collaborative faculty member at the Music Academy of the West since 2004 and Principal Keyboard with the Santa Barbara Symphony since 2010, Dr. Kislenko is currently a Lecturer in the UCSB Department of Music.
Chavdar Parashkevov, violinist, was born in Bulgaria and has concertized to lavish critical acclaim throughout Europe and the United States. Winner of prizes from national and international competitions, his diverse career has included appearances as concerto soloist, solo recitalist, and chamber musician in Denmark, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, and the U.S. A graduate of the School for the Arts in Varna, Bulgaria, he came to the U.S. in 1997 to continue his education with Edward Schmieder at Southern Methodist University and Andjei Grabiec at the University of Houston. In 2005 Chavdar and pianist Vessela Gintcheva released the CD Moto Perpetuo, which features Bulgarian violin music, and in 2009 the CD was played for the Shuttle Atlantis during Mission STS 125 to the Hubble Space Telescope. Mr. Parashkevov currently combines performing and teaching careers, and performs in the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet Orchestras.
