Young Stars of the Young Century: 3 Teenage Virtuosi Perform in Toronto, May 9

Saturday, May 9 at the Glenn Gould Studio

SHOW ONE PRESENTS THREE ASTOUNDING YOUNG TALENTS

IN YOUNG STARS OF THE YOUNG CENTURY CONCERT

’ÄúThese concerts are so full of youthful energy and true virtuosity that I cannot think of a better way to inspire your kids and give yourself hope for the next generation,’Äù says Svetlana Dvoretskaia.

Her company, Show One Productions, is about to present the 2009 edition of its signature series, Young Stars of the Young Century. Three teenage virtuosi from the former Soviet Union ’Äì all international award-winners ’Äì perform in Toronto Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. W.

Tickets, $35; students and seniors $30, are available from the Roy Thomson Hall Box Office, www.roythomson.com or 416-872-4255. Details including the complete program, and group rates may be obtained by visiting www.ShowOneProductions.ca.

The three Young Stars ’Äì all winners of awards from the California-based Guzik Foundation ’Äì are coming direct from their Carnegie Hall debuts, the night before.

Georgian pianist Luka Okrostsvoridze is back for his third Young Stars performance, after his successful North American solo recital debut in Toronto in 2007. Armenian clarinetist Narek Arutyunyan returns after his first Toronto visit in Young Stars in 2008. Russian violinist Yuri Revich makes his Canadian debut.

Their concert features musical favorites from the sublime romanticism of Chopin and Schumann to the jazzy delights of Gershwin and Piazzolla, with plenty of virtuosic musical fireworks, individually and in duos and trios. Among other features composers are Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Sarasate and Franˆßaix.

LUKA OKROSTSVORIDZE, piano (born in Tblisi, Georgia in 1991), studied with Professor Dorensky (teacher of Denis Matsuev) at the Moscow Conservatory. An accomplished pianist and composer, Luka has won international competitions and festivals, including the Colmar in France. After Luka’Äôs first Toronto performance, with Young Stars in 2006, he made his North American solo recital debut here in 2007, winning fans with his charm, and passionate and mature playing. ’ÄúHis intensity is palpable,’Äù remarked the National Post.

YURI REVICH, violin (born in Moscow in 1991), has performed with the Russian National conducted by Mikhail Pletnev, the Moscow Soloists under Yuri Bashmet, and other leading orchestras. Yuri has won such international competitions as Virtuosi of the XXI Century and the David Oistrakh in Russia, and the Oldenburg Promenade and International Kloster-Schontal Violin Competition in Germany. In 2008, French master Alan Karbonar presented Yuri with a violin made especially for him. Germany’Äôs Weinheimer Nachrichten (Weinheim News) described how Revich ’Äúleft the public open-mouthed with the drama, passion and directness of his performance.’Äù

NAREK ARUTYUNYAN, clarinet (born in Gumri, Armenia, 1992) is a regular soloist with the great Russian orchestras, under the likes of Constantine Orbelian, Vladimir Spivakov, and Yuri Bashmet. Narek has also given solo recitals in France, Italy and Switzerland. A winner of many international competitions, Narek is equally gifted in classical and jazz. At his 2008 Toronto debut in Young Stars, Alexa Petrenko of Classical 96.3 FM exclaimed that ’Äúthis performance stopped time.’Äù

The artists’Äô Carnegie Hall debuts, May 8, mark the U.S. debuts of Okrostvoridze and Revich, and the New York debut of Arutyunyan.

YOUNG STARS OF THE YOUNG CENTURY

’ÄúThe Glenn Gould is a perfect acoustic venue,’Äù says Svetlana Dvoretskaia. ’ÄúIt also has a legacy, being named for one of the most important musicians in the world ’Äì which should make it as inspiring for the young virtuosi to play there as it is for the audience to hear them.’Äù

For the last five years, Show One Productions has presented the Young Stars of the Young Century gala concerts, featuring the cream of the most talented young musicians from the former U.S.S.R.

Their concerts are a celebration of musical achievement, friendship and peace. The youthful artists have received outstanding critical acclaim through the years, along with exposure to new audiences. The Toronto Star has called Young Stars a ’Äúhigh-wattage evening of classical music favorites.’Äù

THE GUZIK FOUNDATION

Every year, music schools throughout Russia groom their finest students to compete for scholarships granted by the Palo Alto-based Guzik Foundation. Over $400,000 is granted annually in cash prizes, recording contracts, concerts and other career enhancement. The Guzik Foundation Scholarship Program is funded by innovative philanthropist Nahum Guzik, a high-tech industrialist and Russian ˆ©migrˆ©.