The Tuesday Evening Concert Series has long held a reputation for setting a standard for chamber music performances, but tonight’s concert at Old Cabell Hall may move the bar to new heights. The performance features a collaboration of two of the medium’s biggest names in what amounts to a highly elite line-up of internationally acclaimed luminaries playing some of chamber music’s most complex and expressive composers: The St. Petersburg Quartet, mixes it up with a preeminent pianist still at the keys, Misha Dichter, for a rare evening of intimate works by Borodin, Shostakovich, and Schumann.
To say Misha Dichter is a living legend would actually be an understatement. The first major accolade of his five decade-spanning career came in 1966 at the tender age of 20, with a surprise silver medal at the 1966 Tchaikovsky Competition as a virtual unknown, and on that day his star began an ascent that would include international critical acclaim, prestigious honors including the hallowed “Grand Prix International du Disque Liszt” for his Liszt piano transcriptions, various influential recordings, and collaborations with essentially every major orchestra on the planet. He’s also a highly respected illustrator, and recently e-published a collection of his black-and-white work in a collection entitled, “A Pianist’s World in Drawings.”
If that weren’t enough by itself, the St. Petersburg Quartet appears in perfect compliment to Mr. Dichter. Founded in 1985 as the Leningrad String Quartet, hundreds of concerts throughout North America, Europe, and Asia’s most prestigious series and festivals have established them as a compelling foursome. Their work has netted Grammy nominations, “Best Record” accolades from both Stereo Review and Gramophone, a distinguished opening set at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart, a five-year residency at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and a small mountain of awards including first prize and the “Grand Prix Musica Viva” at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Awards, as well as first prize and both special prizes at Vittorio Gui International Competition for Chamber Music Ensembles in Florence.
1/29 Tuesday Evening Concert Series featuring St. Petersburg Quartet with special guest Misha Dichter, piano
8pm at Old Cabell Hall Tickets available at http://tickets.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu/