iAN & ANi - Enthralled the Audience With Their Program “Spanish Fire”
December 7, 2011, Chicago, IL, Ian Maksin and Ani Gogova took the stage at Chopin Theatre in front of a sold-out audience awaiting their program titled “Spanish Fire.” The duo progressively captivated the audience with their new program performing the music from Spanish and Latin American origin. The program included music by such Spanish and Latin American composers as: Astor Piazzolla – Oblivion, Alberto Ginastera - Pampeana #2, Danzas Argentinas, Gaspar Cassado - Suite for Cello, Enrique Granados - Danzas Espanolas, Rodion Shchedrin - Tribute to Albeniz, Manuel De Falla - Seis Canciones Populares.
iAN&ANi is a collaboration of two incredibly gifted musicians whose aim is to create a unique listening experience by sharing their passion with their audience. Both musicians are accomplished in their own right. By the way that this duo plays in unison, you would think that they have been collaborating for years. The musicians recently met at one of Ian’s concerts, where they immediately struck up friendship and discovered a common passion for music with a purpose. Their vision is to deliver one-of-a-kind performances filled not just with the traditional fair, but, likewise an eclectic musical works for the last 100 years from Russia, Spain and Latin America.
Leonard Mogul, market development director for Kontinent Media stated that “I would be amiss not to praise the Chopin Theatre proprietors’ for creating an intimate atmosphere for their guests. The area where the post-concert reception took place allowed for the attendees a chance to meet and greet the musicians. Ian as part of an encore performance treated his guests to singing and guitar play, where Ani in her earlier encore performance enthralled same audience with Beethoven’s – Appassionata.”
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Leonard Mogul
Kontinent Media
kontinentmedia@gmail.com
Photos by: Mila Samokhina
Post Notes:
Russian-born cellist and composer Ian Maksin began playing cello at age 6 in his native Saint-Petersburg. He has performed for audiences around the world as a soloist, chamber musician as well as the principal cellist of the New World Symphony under direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. His live performances and recordings have been broadcast on National Public Radio and on radio and television around the world. Outside classical music, Maksin’s performance career encompasses many musical genres: he has collaborated with artists such as Sting, Andrea Bocelli, P.Diddy, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Beach Boys, as well as Riverdance and Cirque du Soleil. In addition to appearing as a soloist with numerous orchestras around the world and at many classical music festivals such as Ravinia, Spoleto, and the White Nights Festival in his native St. Petersburg, Russia, Maksin has also performed at Lollapalooza and on MTV.
Bulgarian-born pianist Ani Gogova has been acclaimed for her “dazzling artistic presence”, “masterful poetic expression”, “ravishing colors”, and “virtuoso technique beyond reproach”. A winner of numerous national and international competitions, Gogova has appeared in solo recitals and concerts with orchestras in Bulgaria, Italy, Serbia, England, Romania, Slovenia, Portugal, Macedonia, and throughout the US. Her musical renditions have been heard on the Bulgarian National Radio, Classic FM Radio, Public Radio International, and WFMT Chicago. In addition to her performances, she has been the featured presenter at numerous high profile festivals and conferences including The College Music Society, European Piano Teachers Association, World Piano Conference, and Isidor Bajic International Piano Memorial. Highlights of this season include performances throughout Chicago including one at PianoForte Foundation broadcasts for WFMT, tours on the East Coast and Eastern Europe and participation in the jury of the 5th Isidor Bajic International Piano Competition.
UPCOMING CONCERTS:
December 16, 7:30PM - FROM BACH TO BG, Russian Cultural Center KRUG:
(The first set will be cello music: Bach, Ian’s own compositions as well as music of composer Ilya Levinson. The second set will be a tribute to “Akvarium’s”artist/poet/songwriter Boris Grebenschikov and his music. Ian will sing some of his songs to the guitar...) Tickets $15, at the door only, includes wine reception.
January 20, 7:30PM - SPANISH FIRE ENCORE, Russian Cultural Center KRUG, 718 S Milwaukee Rd, Wheeling IL
January 21, 7:00PM - SPANISH FIRE ENCORE, Barrington Presbyterian Church, 6 Brinker Road, Barrington IL
January 24, 7:30PM - IAN MAKSIN IN CONCERT,Loyola Museum of Modern Art, 800 N Michigan Ave, Chicago IL
www.ianmaksin.com