WHEN: May 17, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: RCC Our Texas (2337 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005)

ADMISSION: $20

Wine will be served.

Program:

• Frédéric Chopin: Scherzo No.2 in B-flat minor
• Frédéric Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat major
• Sergei Rachmaninoff: Sonata No.2 in B-flat minor
• Claude Debussy: Preludes, Book I
• Karol Szymanowski: Mazurkas
• Christopher Theofanidis: Birichino

Performer: Marcin Koziak – piano

Presentation by Sergey Kuznetsov, Professor of Piano at Lone Star College.

Young Polish pianist Marcin Koziak has been chosen to participate in Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He currently is a student at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth under the tutorship of Professor Tamas Ungar and the Academy of Music in Krakow.

Marcin Koziak was born in 1989 in Krakow, Poland, in a musical family. At the age of ten he won his first Poland-wide competition. He is a laureate of many Poland-wide and international competitions. Among his awards are: II prize at the 5^th International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists in Narva (Estonia, 2004),  I prize at the 2^nd International Chopin Competition for Young Pianists in Budapest (2006) and II prize and three additional prizes at the 7^th International Competition for Young Pianists “Arthur Rubinstein in memoriam” in Bydgoszcz (Poland, 2007). Marcin has participated in numerous international festivals in Poland, Switzerland, France, Japan, China, and Italy.

For more information please call 713.395.3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com

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WHEN: April 30, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: RCC Our Texas (2337 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005)

ADMISSION: $20 / $16-RCC members

Wine will be served.

Program:

• Presentation by maestro Hans Graf
• Excerpts from the documentary “Riot at the Rite”

The Rite of Spring is a ballet and orchestral concert work by the Russian composer Igor Stravinsky. It was written for the 1913 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes company, with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky and stage designs and costumes by Nicholas Roerich.

Movie by the BBC documents the debut of  Igor Stravinsky’s masterpiece. The music and choreography by Nijinsky were so far advanced for the time that the Parisian audience rioted in its inability to grasp the event.

For more information please call 713.395.3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com

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WHEN: Friday, April 19, 2013, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Dowling Music (2615 Southwest Fwy #220 Houston, TX 77098)

ADMISSION: $30, $25 – seniors and students

Buy tickets ONLINE

Cocktail reception – during the intermission

Alex Titov Presents “American and Russian Jazz Standards”.

This concert will fuse American jazz standards with practically unknown Russian Jazz standards. Who could have thought that under the thick layer of Communist oppression there was a vibrant Russian jazz.

You will discover this music for yourself and enjoy unforgettable evening filled with the sounds of true jazz standards vivid and fresh as though they had been composed and performed for the first time. The sounds of real jazz!

Performers: Boris Kurganov and Co.

Boris Kurganov is jazz saxophonist and violinist originally from Moscow, Russia. Boris made his professional debut in 1985 at Tudenti Jazz festival in Tallinn, Estonia. In 1988, he started performing with Allegro, one of Russia’s most famous jazz collectives to date. In 1990s Boris Kurganov has played as soloist with several bands all over Russia and abroad, including performances in San Antonio, Houston and New York. He participated in various international jazz festivals, such as Copenhagen Jazz festival in 1990 and Montreal Jazz festival in 1997. After relocating to New York in 2000, Boris performed at number of live music scenes such as Soul Cafe, Le Bar Bat, Birdland and Carnegie Hall with prominent jazz players such as Art Lillard, Paul Bollenback and Marco Panascia.

Also in the group: Roman Ivanov – piano player originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, living and performing jazz professionally in New York since 1992; Grammy Award-winning bassist Paul Nowinski, and talanted jazz singer Anna Tolkacheva.

For more information please call 713.395.3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com

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WHEN: Friday, March 22, 2013, 7:30p.m.

WHERE: RCC Our Texas (2337 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005)

ADMISSION: $20

Wine will be served.

Currently on view at RCC CaviArt Gallery is the exhibition “Prague” by Houston photographer Victoria Asinovsky.

In conjunction with this exhibit we present a musical evening “Music and Prague”.

Performers: Alla Aranovskaya – violin, Zoya Shuhatovich- piano

Program:

• W.A. Mozart: Violin sonata in G major,  К 301
• A. Dvořák: Violin Sonatina in G major
• I. Brahms: Scherzo for violin and piano
• F. Drdla: Souvenir
• F Kreisler: “Rondino on Beethoven’s theme” for violin
• M. de Falla: “Spanish dance” for violin

Alla Aranovskaya graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory . She is founder and first violinist of St. Petersburg Quartet. Under her leadership, the quartet has unquestionably become one of the world’s great string quartets. The quartet’s numerous engagements include: an opening night performance at the Mostly Mozart festival at Lincoln Center, NY; seven concerts at London’s Wigmore Hall; numerous British festivals; Canadian débuts in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver; Lincoln Center’s “Great performances” series; NYC’s Frick Collection and 92nd Street Y series; and the Caramoor, Piccolo Spoleto, and Music Mountain Festivals.

With the St. Petersburg Quartet, Ms. Aranovskaya recorded the complete cycle of Shostakovich string quartets as well as quartets by Prokofiev, Glazunov and Borodin. A new recording of the complete Tchaikovsky Quartets finished in 2010.

In 2009 Ms. Aranovskaya founded, and became director of, the quartet’s educational program, the St. Petersburg International Music Academy.

Steinway Artist Zoya Shuhatovich studied piano in the Gorky State Conservatory, Russia, with the highly regarded pianist and teacher Ilia Fridman, a student of the legendary piano teacher, Heinrich Neuhaus.

Ms. Shuhatovich  tours extensively with solo recitals over the United States and in Europe.  Her recitals are frequently broadcasted on National Public Radio, Sirius™ Satellite Radio, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Zoya Shuhatovich has joined the distinguished ranks of Steinway Artists in 2007. Another important feature in her work is chamber music. She collaborates with artists such as Yair Kless, Laszlo Varga, Boris Garlitsky, Emmanuel Borok, St. Petersburg String Quartet and many others.

Advanced tickets purchase is recommended as seating is limited.

For more information please call 713.395.3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com
Sponsors:

WHEN: March 10, 2013, 7:00p.m.

WHERE: University of St. Thomas (3910 Yoakum Blvd. Houston, TX 77006)

TICKETS: $30.
BUY TICKETS ONLINE

Victor Shenderovich is well-known Russian writer and publicist.

He is a member of Russian Pen-club and the winner of many Russian and international awards, such as “Golden Ostap” at St. Petersburg Festival of Humor, and “Golden Pen of Russia”. Victor Shenderovich was also awarded a prize by Moscow Helsinki Group in nomination “Human rights protection by means of arts and culture”.

He was an author of TV programs “The Dolls “ and  “Altogether”. Now Victor Shenderovich contributes to the programs of Russian radio station “Echo of Moscow” and writes for the magazine “New York Times”.

His literary works and plays have been translated into English, German, French, Finnish and Polish languages.

For more information please call 713.395.3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com

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Event:             Russian Spring Celebration

Date:               Sunday, March 3, 2012

Time:              3pm

Location:        “Under the Volcano” (2349 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005)

Admission:     $10.00

We are thrilled to be bringing back the largest festival of Russian culture in Texas to Houston and its visitors. This year, the “Russian Spring Celebration” promises to be especially exciting due to a new lineup of artists performing a varied program of music and dance in a fantastic demonstration of Russia’s cultural heritage.

In keeping with tradition, there will be tasty Maslenitsa specialty foods on sale, including the quintessentially Russian blini (pancakes) and pierogy (savory pastries). Meanwhile, there will also be stalls where guests can purchase a range of traditional handicrafts and souvenirs. Special activities for the children will include a bouncy castle.

The band lineup includes the best contemporary Russian dance folk group from Austin “Flying Balalaika Brothers” and a talented young Houston newcomer band “The Girl with Peaches”.

In the program:

• Delicious Russian food: our signature home-made bliny ( Russian pancakes) and savory piroshky with various fillings
• Broad assortment of traditional Russian souvenirs for sale
• Live music by popular Austin-based band “Flying Balalaika Brothers” and new group of talented young musicians from Houston “The Girl with Peaches”
• Cash bar
• Special entertainment for kids!

For more information please call 713.395.3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Gene Burd, Alex Prokhorov

WHEN: January 12 – April 4, 2013

WHERE: RCC Our Texas – CaviArt Gallery (2337 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005)

ADMISSION: free

Opening Night and the meeting with the artist: January 11, 7:30p.m.
Wine will be served..

Victoria Asinovsky lives in Houston. She has been working in photography for over 10 years.  In 2005 Victoria graduated from New York Institute of Photography. Since 2009 Victoria works in her own studio.

Ms. Asinovsky participated in several photo contests and published photographs in Texas Highways newspaper. In April of 2012, two of her photographic series, “Prague” and “White Sands”, were exhibited in The Market Place Antique center.

One of the photographs from the “White Sands” series won the contest “High and Dry XI” and was exhibited in the International Cultural Center in Lubbock, Texas (November-January, 2011).

We are open: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All works are available for sale.

For more information please call 713.395.3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com

Sponsors:

WHEN: Canceled

WHERE: Melody  Club – 3027 Crossview  Houston, TX  77063 ( between Fondren &  Westheimer)

ADMISSION: $15

Buy tickets online HERE

Russian Cultural Center Our Texas and The Gypsies  band invite those who did not finish ringing in the New Year on December 31 to continue the holiday.

It is the best European bash in town and THE PLACE to dance the polka, waltz, two-step, tango, czardas, hassapiko, frailach, swing and other music around the world.

Music and Entertainment by:

• The famous ethnic band The Gypsies; founder and leader – Greg Harbar;
• Oksana and Yuri Russian Fantasy;
• Gypsy Dance Theatre.

Eastern European food – by Polonia Restaurant

For more information please call 713-395-3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com

Sponsors:

Piano Accompaniment: professor Semion Skigin

WHEN: Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 6:00pm

WHERE: University of St. Thomas – Jones Hall (3910 Yoakum Blvd.  Houston, TX 77006)

TICKETS: $60 – general admission; $125 – best seats, including VIP reception.

Buy tickets ONLINE

About the performers

Dazzling Russian coloratura soprano Albina Shagimuratova is the winner of Gold Medal in the 2007 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. She is a graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Studio and appeared at Houston Grand Opera, Bolshoi Theatre, Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala Milan and other famous opera theaters of the world.

Semion Skigin won Grand-prix at the International Competition of Piano Accompaniment in Rio de Janeiro in 1975. He is the Artistic Director of the Theatre Barge Music Festival in Dresden and Artistic Director of the Berlin Salon. Nowadays Semion Skigin is regarded as one of the most acknowledged and engaged masters of piano accompaniment.

Program:

• Part I: Romances by Sergey Rachmaninoff
• Part II: Lyrical bel canto operatic scenes

VIP Reception after the recital
Russian Cultural Center will present Ms. Shagimuratova with an award “The Ambassador of Culture” for her promoting of Russian culture in Texas.
Hors d’oeuvres, wine and Russian vodka will be served

Please, purchase your tickets in advance as the seating is limited.

For more information please call 713-395-3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com
Albina Shagimuratova at Houston Public Radio Classical

Sponsors:

WHEN: Saturday, December 15, 2012 at 11:30am

WHERE: RCC Our Texas (2337 Bissonnet Houston, TX 77005)

ADMISSION: $15 for kids/adults

Buy tickets online HERE

An Unforgettable Russian Christmas for children:

PUPPET THEATER
“The Sleeping Beauty”

The famous fairy tale, “Sleeping Beauty and the Handsome Prince” will dazzle all ages with beautiful handcrafted marionettes on strings. The Good Fairy helps the Handsome Prince battle the Dragon belonging  to the Wicked Witch. Then the Prince can’t remember how to wake up the Princess Sleeping Beauty, so he asks the audience! The story is followed by a revealing  demonstration of how everything works. Racoonie, the finale, thinks he is real and all the children are stuffed people! Everyone can pet Racoonie!

Presents from Father Frost to Each Child!

Please, purchase your tickets in advance as the seating is limited.

For more information please call 713-395-3301 or e-mail OurTexasInc@gmail.com

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