MYSTERY & TURBULENCE
The Music of Imperial Russia
A Drama-Recital on music shadowing the twilight years of the fateful Romanov Dynasty
In the music centers of Moscow and St. Petersburg during the final years of the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, composers reflected an atmosphere brimming with the turmoil and mysticism of the age. Scriabin, the revolutionary theosophist, and Rachmaninoff, the conservative stabilizing force, represent a clash of ideals that coincides with the downfall of an established order. Music of these composers will be highlighted, including rare performances of Tchaikovsky’s dazzling “Grand Sonata,” and Traganas’ own original transcription for piano of Rachmaninoff’s tragic symphonic poem “Isle of the Dead.”
Internationally acclaimed Pianist ELENI TRAGANAS offers unusual narrative insight into the fascinating lives and times of the Romanovs and the composers influenced by the compelling drama of the age.
NEWSDAY Writes:
A PIANIST’S HOMAGE TO RUSSIA’S EMPRESS (Headline) ‘Years ago, Pianist ELENI TRAGANAS had a dream. It was around the time when the graves of Russia’s last imperial family, the Romanovs, were exhumed in Yekaterinburg, Russia. TRAGANAS is sure that Empress Alexandra, the wife of the Last Tsar, appeared in her dream. And thus began TRAGANAS’ quest to bring vindication to the woman who was murdered in 1918'
Praise for MYSTERY & TURBULENCE
“A very enlightening and moving experience! ELENI TRAGANAS demonstrated an innate ability to convey great dramatic and artistic expression”
SHELTER ROCK LIBRARY CONCERTS NY
“The audience raved about Mystery & Tubulence. Thank you for a wonderful performance!”
OYSTER BAY EAST NORWICH CONCERT SERIES NY
“An outstanding drama-recital…played with powerful artistry”
Conversations with Music, BETHPAGE NY
“A most enjoyable, beautiful performance…a very special program!”
EAST MEADOW LIBRARY CONCERTS
“Exquisitely played, with great subtlety, depth and stunning technical ability. Mystery & Turbulence was performed with brilliance, erudition and grace, and left the audience in awe of an almost forgotten portion of history and musical innovation.”
RIDOTTO CONCERTS, NY
“Phenomenal!”
ENGLEWOOD NJ LIBRARY CONCERTS
“Performed with exceptional mastery”
THE NEW RUSSIAN WORD
THE EAGLE'S EYE
Picturing Grieg & Brahms
Drawing on Nature for inspiration, the sweeping canvases of C. D. Friedrich provide the backdrop to the intensely imagistic tonal world of Grieg and Brahms
“A soaring eagle,” the Romantic composer and critic Robert Schumann proclaimed of Johannes Brahms when the young musician first played his astonishing compositions for the master at the age of only 19. The “wonderful regions and enchanting spheres” of Brahms’ music, like veiled symphonies of sound, contrast starkly with the elegantly simple miniatures of Edvard Grieg, whose modest yet tonally imagistic works lead one into a pictorial world of captivating light and color. Drawing on the great Romantic artists of the time, the sweeping, mystical landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich and others lend their fascinating imagery to the tonal poetry and architecture of Grieg’s bewitching “Lyric Pieces” and Brahms’ monumental Sonata for piano.
CHROMOSYNESTHESIA
Perspectives of Color and Tone in Performance
Hearing Color Through Sight – Perceiving Sound Through Color
A Specialized Lecture/Demonstration exploring the role of ‘color’ in performance. The use of Meta-agogics, or tonal shifts through touch, dynamics, pedaling, etc. in combination with actual color- key relationships are investigated to enhance emotive capacities in performance.
Repertoire Associations
An analysis of performance excerpts is presented chromatically focusing on changing color and establishing personal key associations
Color Attributes
Color Swatch Testing is performed to determine individual raw, initial responsiveness to each color from primary colors (RED –YELLOW – BLUE) to secondary colors (ORANGE – GREEN – PURPLE) to tertiary and auxiliary colors.
Key Qualities
Composers’ choice of keys and their corresponding qualities are discussed, including the use of specific keys to delineate distinct characters.
Color & Memorization
Mnemonic devices aiding in enhanced performance techniques are investigated.
Fresh, creative approaches re-evaluate how music is subjectively perceived.