The Art of the Piano Duo: Alexander Rudin (piano, cello) & Ekaterina Derzhavina (piano)

Greater Boston brims with top-quality classical music performances, yet world-class piano duo concerts rarely occur.  In response, the Boston-based non-profit Sound Ways presents The Art of the Piano Duo, its inaugural piano duo concert series, comprised of three evening concerts taking place on the first three Saturdays in June 2024. Under the leadership of Artistic Advisor Dr. Elena Sorokina, Professor Emeritus of the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory and preeminent expert of the piano duo genre, this three-concert event features international performers presenting repertoire from the 18th through 20th centuries.

This concert focuses on the music of Franz Schubert, highlighting works for piano four hands as well as cello and piano. Esteemed cellist/pianist/conductor Alexander Rudin teams up with pianist Ekaterina Derzhavina to deliver a rare program exploring the connections between Schubert’s piano duets and his music for string instrument and piano.

Beginning with the Eight Variations on a French Song for piano four hands, Rudin then takes up his cello to perform the Sonatina in G minor in partnership with Derzhavina on the piano. The first half concludes with a Characteristic March for piano four hands. The second half begins with the Rondo in D major for piano duet and climaxes with the richly composed Grand Duo, with Rudin playing cello.

Program:

Eight Variations on a French Song (“Le bon chevalier”),
Sonatina in G minor, D. 408 (cello & piano)
Characteristic March in C major, D. 968b, no. 2
Rondo in D major, D. 608 (piano 4 hands)
“Grand Duo” in A major, D. 574 (cello & piano)