By CH Smith
Lacking a little bit of culture? Well, not to worry because the Russians are coming and for $17-65 you can take a seat in the Kremlin–the “Klassic Kremlin”.
Internationally renowned conductor and former CPO Music Director Hans Graf returns to Calgary Nov. 14 to 15 to conduct the CPO in a concert of Russian masterpieces including Tchaikowsky’s beloved and familiar Sleeping Beauty Suite.
Two other “klassics” will be showcased this weekend, Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and what will no doubt be the highlight of the night: Prokofiev’s Concerto for the left hand performed by Janina Fialkowska. The fact that Fialkowska can even sit at a piano after finding out last January that she had cancer is extraordinary.
After radiation treatments and a risky surgery to remove a rare form of cancer in her left arm, Fialkowska currently plays with her right hand only. Since most one-handed concertos are composed for left hand, Fialkowska has had to transcribe many of these concertos for the right hand so she can not only continue to play, but also perform. Fialkowska says that these concertos have saved her life and it will undoubtedly be inspiring to see them performed.
Klassic Kremlin runs Fri., Nov. 14 and Sat., Nov. 15. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.