Romantic Masterpieces

We are delighted to bring pianists Anton Melnichenko, Ekateina Knyazeva and cellist Hang Liu back this season. Their program is filled with the most beloved romantic masterpieces of the 20th century. We hope you'll join us!

PROGRAM

• S. Rachmaninoff. Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 for two pianos.
• S. Rachmaninoff. Cello Sonata, Op. 19.
• A. Piazzolla. Liebertango for two pianos.

For more information visit: www.artemusicamn.com

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

ANTON MELNICHENKO, piano

Russian-born pianist Anton Melnichenko has been performing on several continents since his first solo recital at the age of twelve. His performances have always garnered him both public and critical acclaim. In addition to top prizes Melnichenko has received various special audience awards on numerous international competitions.

A graduate of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Anton has also received an Artist Diploma at Hamline University, as well as his Master's and Doctoral degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota, where he studied with Professor Alexander Braginsky.

Melnichenko has earned top prizes in a number of international and national competitions, including first prizes at the International Competition "Citta di Fasano" (Italy), the Shubert Club Competition (USA), International Competition The Art of 21st century (Ukraine), Gavrilin International Piano Competition (Russia), as well as the fourth prize at the V International Piano Competition in Andorra. He has also appeared on many television and radio stations in Russia, US and Europe, such as Minnesota Public Radio, Russia K Channel (Culture), Russian National Television and others, performing works by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovich.

EKATERINA KNYAZEVA, piano

Ekaterina Knyazeva is a concert solo pianist and chamber musician. She has performed recitals in major concert halls across Europe (Italy, France, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Switzerland, Germany), Russia and the United States, including The Mariinsky Theater and Philharmonic Halls in St. Petersburg, The Laeiszhalle, Tschaikowsky-Saal and Mozart-Säle in Hamburg, as well as Rachmaninoff Hall in Moscow and others.

Knyazeva has appeared as a soloist with Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory, Novgorod Philharmonic Orchestra, Taurida Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra of Republic of Bashkortostan , USAA Ismagilov Orchestra and others.

Ekaterina has taken part in major international festivals such as Musiksommer am Zurichsee (Switzerland), Kammermusik am Hafen, Schlossfestspiele Hohenpriessnitz Machern and Music Islands (Germany), Three centuries of romance (Russia). In 2018 Ekaterina led the concert series “Weltklassik am clavier” in Zurich and was a visiting professor at the “Pianoonline academy” in Alpnahstadt (Switzerland).

Prizewinner of many international and national competitions, Ekaterina was also awarded the title of the best collaborative pianist at “The sound of the Universe” baroque music festival in Moscow. Knyazeva is also the first performer of works by contemporary composers such as Sergey Slonimsky, Igor Vorobiev and others. In 2013 the publishing house “Composer” released a disc of piano pieces by Slonimsky, recorded in an ensemble with Ekaterina , in support of childrens’ performing arts.

HANG LIU, cello

Hang is highly described as having “ outstanding skills and talent, superb artistic presence and commitment” by MTNA, “beautiful tone and brilliant technique, always showing inspiration and energy” by his mentor Prof. Tanya Remenikova.

He was featured as soloist and chamber musician with Sichuan Symphony Orchestra(China) 2021-2022 musical season. From age 18 on, Hang has frequently performed solo, chamber music, and symphonies in well-known music festivals such as Bowdoin International Music Festival, Meadowmount School of Music in the USA, Mozarteum of Salzburg in Austria, where he also collaborated cello ensemble with international cellists Jian Wang, Julius Berger, David Requiro.

In fall 2020 Hang established his own cello/bass ensemble in Chengdu, China. At their widely noted / highly successful debut appearance in Chengdu City Concert Hall, Hang dedicated the whole program as a soloist and first cellist. The ensemble evoked the enthusiasm of all audiences.

In the past two years Hang received top prizes in many international and national competitions, such as First prize of Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition (Paris 2022, Bonn 2021), Second Prize at Schubert Club Competition (2022), Solo artist of Sichuan Symphony Orchestra.

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