Music on Thursdays
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Thursday
17th November 2022
12.30 lunchtime
Elena Toponogova
piano
Programme
Ukrainian Folk Sing
The Willow Board (Вербова дощечка, Verbova doshchechka)
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
from Six moments musicaux, Op 16 (1896)
No 5 Adagio sostenuto in Db major
No 3 Andante cantabile in B minor
from Six Songs Op 38 (1916)
Daisies
from Études-tableaux Op 39 (1916)
No 2 in A minor Lento assai
No 5 in Eb minor Appassionato
Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951)
from Forgotten Melodies, Cycle I (Забытые мотивы; Vergessene Weisen)
Op 38 (1919–22)
No 1 Sonata reminiscenza (Соната-воспоминание) in A minor
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
from The Nutcracker Suite Op 71a (1892)
arr Mikhail Vasilievich Pletnev (b1957)
d. Intermezzo (Journey through the Snow)
Concert duration approx: 40 minutes
Please donate to help fund these concerts at: cafdonate.cafonline.org/14455
Elena Toponogova
Elena Toponogova is a concert pianist and chamber musician based in London. Her main interest is Russian repertoire with an especial focus on the music of Nikolai Medtner.
In 2017, Elena received a Master of Performance degree from the Royal College of Music, studying under Norma Fisher. Her studies were generously supported by the Norah Seary Trust, Altrusa Careers Trust, the Future of Russia Foundation and Tsukanov Family Foundation.
She was selected to study at the Academie de Musique Riviera in Switzerland with Pavel Gililov and was supported by Help Musicians UK Transmission Fund grant.
Elena has taken part in many international festivals including Chichester Festival, Bloomsbury Festival, and Timani Music Festival in Oslo. She has been performing as a soloist and chamber musician in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Russia and appeared at the prestigious Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, Salzburg Wiener Saal, Amaryllis Fleming Hall, V&A Museum, St-Martin-in-the-Fields, among many others.
In 2017, with the support of the Oleg Prokofiev Trust she performed Prokofiev’s Five Poems of Anna Akhmatova at the Regent Hall together with soprano Eleanor Penfold. The concert was described as “an inspiring performance” by Musical Opinion Magazine.
Elena is proud to be a part of Live Music Now initiative that brings live music to care settings and hospitals across the UK.
“Her performance was mesmerising!” — Musical Opinion Magazine
www.elenatoponogova.com
Instagram: @lenkinn
In 2017, Elena received a Master of Performance degree from the Royal College of Music, studying under Norma Fisher. Her studies were generously supported by the Norah Seary Trust, Altrusa Careers Trust, the Future of Russia Foundation and Tsukanov Family Foundation.
She was selected to study at the Academie de Musique Riviera in Switzerland with Pavel Gililov and was supported by Help Musicians UK Transmission Fund grant.
Elena has taken part in many international festivals including Chichester Festival, Bloomsbury Festival, and Timani Music Festival in Oslo. She has been performing as a soloist and chamber musician in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Russia and appeared at the prestigious Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, Salzburg Wiener Saal, Amaryllis Fleming Hall, V&A Museum, St-Martin-in-the-Fields, among many others.
In 2017, with the support of the Oleg Prokofiev Trust she performed Prokofiev’s Five Poems of Anna Akhmatova at the Regent Hall together with soprano Eleanor Penfold. The concert was described as “an inspiring performance” by Musical Opinion Magazine.
Elena is proud to be a part of Live Music Now initiative that brings live music to care settings and hospitals across the UK.
“Her performance was mesmerising!” — Musical Opinion Magazine
www.elenatoponogova.com
Instagram: @lenkinn
Recordings of the works in today's concert
Ukrainian Folk Sing
The Willow Board (Вербова дощечка, Verbova doshchechka) [4:16]
Elena Toponogova opens her concert with a Ukrainian folk song. Most popularly known as The Willow Board, it has acquired many other names of the centuries.
The singers are Kiev Glier Institute of Music Vocal Group, with conductor Galina Gorbatenko, in a 1985 arrangement by Volodymyr Schneider.
Here they are performing at the 51st Tolosa Choral Contest 2019, held in the Basque Country, Spain. This competition is a member of the European Grand Prix Association for Choral Singing. The choir won 2nd Prize in both Religious Music and Secular Music!
The Willow Board (Вербова дощечка, Verbova doshchechka) [4:16]
Elena Toponogova opens her concert with a Ukrainian folk song. Most popularly known as The Willow Board, it has acquired many other names of the centuries.
The singers are Kiev Glier Institute of Music Vocal Group, with conductor Galina Gorbatenko, in a 1985 arrangement by Volodymyr Schneider.
Here they are performing at the 51st Tolosa Choral Contest 2019, held in the Basque Country, Spain. This competition is a member of the European Grand Prix Association for Choral Singing. The choir won 2nd Prize in both Religious Music and Secular Music!
Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
from Six moments musicaux, Op 16 (1896)
No 5 Adagio sostenuto in Db major [4:01]
No 3 Andante cantabile in B minor [7:29]
from Six Songs Op 38 (1916)
Daisies [2:48]
from Études-tableaux Op 39 (1916)
No 2 in A minor Lento assai [6:46]
No 5 in Eb minor Appassionato [6:09]
First, here is a recording of the Adagio sostenuto from the Royal College of Music where the pianist is Gerard Aimontche.
This barcarolle style piece starts extremely softly.
from Six moments musicaux, Op 16 (1896)
No 5 Adagio sostenuto in Db major [4:01]
No 3 Andante cantabile in B minor [7:29]
from Six Songs Op 38 (1916)
Daisies [2:48]
from Études-tableaux Op 39 (1916)
No 2 in A minor Lento assai [6:46]
No 5 in Eb minor Appassionato [6:09]
First, here is a recording of the Adagio sostenuto from the Royal College of Music where the pianist is Gerard Aimontche.
This barcarolle style piece starts extremely softly.
Rachmaninov
from Six moments musicaux
No 3 Andante cantabile in B minor
In this performance we hear Eduard Kunz. One of the comments against this video is: "So exquisitely played, so authentic and meditative, that it feels like a masterful improvisation." What do you think?
Rachmaninov
from Six Songs Op 38
Daisies
This April 2021 performance is by an Upper 6th pupil of Bishops Stortford College, Herts. He is named simply as HN, or Harry N. Where is he now?
Rachmaninov
from Études-tableaux Op 39
No 2 in A minor Lento assai
The pianist here is Nikolai Lugansky, performing in 2021, in the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg:
Rachmaninov
from Études-tableaux Op 39 (1916)
No 5 in Eb minor Appassionato
The pianist in our final Rachmaninov work is Kate Liu.
Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951)
from Forgotten Melodies, Cycle I (Забытые мотивы; Vergessene Weisen)
Op 38 (1919–22) [14:31]
No 1 Sonata reminiscenza in A minor (Соната-воспоминание) in A minor
Here is the main single work in today's concert, and for our recording, we will hear Varvara Nepomnyashaya.
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
from The Nutcracker Suite Op 71a (1892)
arr Mikhail Vasilievich Pletnev (b1957)
d. Intermezzo (Journey through the Snow) [3:52]
Here's a treat! Our recording is of Plentev himself, playing his arrangement, with the music scrolling on screen for those who know what it all means. Please enjoy your "journey through the snow".
Previous concert
Gus McQuade, classical guitar, from the RAM - click here
Next Thursday's concert
Asaka String Quartet, from the RAM - click here
