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Quotes

'Boris gave a high-octane performance.'
Los-Angeles Times

'Young Ukrainian-born Rysanov tears into this music like a prime-time cold warrior... The rich tone of the viola melds perfectly with the repeated, dramatic rhythmic motion that serves the Brahms’s structural Leitmotif...'
Fanfare Magazine, Steven Ritter, August 2007

'Kristina Blaumane is a world-renowned cellist known for her natural musicianship; unique “singing-like” sound and interpretations of such power that leave listener in complete awe.'

'Katya’s power and temperament remind me of Martha Argerich...'
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow

Boris Brovtsyn violin

Boris was born in Moscow in 1977 into a family with deep musical roots and started to play violin under the guidance of his grandfather, a pupil of Lev Zeitlin and Abram Yampolsky. He entered the famous Central Music School in 1984 and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in 1994 before becoming a student of Maya Glezarova at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He graduated with a diploma in 1999 and is now a student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, studying with David Takeno. He made his first public appearance on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre at the age of six and since then has performed in the main concert halls in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and other cities of Russia as well as in Cities of New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union.

From an early age he has collaborated with such distinguished conductors as Alexander Lazarev and Yuri Bashmet, performing with the Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Moscow State Chamber Orchestra, Pertoria Symphony, Orchestra National de Lille, BBC Philharmonic, Orchestre Philarmonique de Monte-Carlo and Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia, to name just a few. His concert tours include performances in Germany (alte Opera Hall, Frankfurt; Kolner Philharmonie, Cologne), France (UNESCO Congress Hall and Opera Comique Theatre, Paris); Holland (Concertgebow Hall, Amsterdam); Austria (Palais Lobkovitz, Vienna).

Boris has made many recordings for television and radio in Russia, Germany, Austria, France, South Africa, the United States, where he first appeared in 1995, and, most notably, in Italy, where Boris performed in front of His Holiness John Paul II in September 1993.

His competition awards include the second prizes at the Georg Kulenkampf Violin Competition in Cologne, the Transnet International String Competition in Pretoria (South Arfica), the International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition in France as well as the 1st prize at the Tibor Varga Violin Competition in Switzerland. Since 1992 Boris has been a scholar of the Russian Culture foundation ("New Names" charity program).

Many competition adjudicators and critics have particularly praised his playing with such plaudits as "brilliant" (Kolnishe Rundshau), "rising star" (Pretoria News), "wonderful talent" (Rudgierro Ricci), "a remarkable technician and intense musician" (Los Angeles Times), and "highly artistic" (Norbert Brainin).

Maxim Rysanov viola

Maxim's biography can be found in concert 4

Kristine Blaumane cello

Kristina was born in Riga into a family of musicians. In 1996 she moved to England. She has won many prestigious competitions and awards including the Latvian Philharmonic Young Musician of the Year, the Carmel International Competition and the Lord Mayor’s Prize.

She gives recitals and performs with orchestras such as the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Riga Chamber Players, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Chicago Civic Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, London Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Netherlands Wind Ensemble under conductors including Thomas Sanderling, Lev Markiz and Peter Oundjian. She has been a guest at major international festivals such as Lockenhaus, Gstaad, Salzburg and Verbier, and has performed chamber music with artists such as Isaac Stern, Gidon Kremer, Bruno Giuranna, Yo Yo Ma, Yuri Bashmet and Nikolaj Znaider. In 2005, Kristina became a laureate of the Great Music Award, the highest prize given by the Latvian State in the field of music.

Katya Apekisheva piano

Katya is one of Europe's foremost pianists, in demand internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, and has been described by Gramophone magazine as 'a profoundly gifted artist' who has 'already achieved artistic greatness'.   

A prize-winner at the Leeds Piano Competition and Scottish Piano Competition, Katya has appeared as soloist with many of the world's leading orchestras including the London Philharmonic, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Symphony and the English Chamber Orchestra. She has collaborated with such conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, David Shallon and Alexander Lazarev.

Her solo CD release of Grieg solo piano works this year has received over-whelming critical acclaim. It was also chosen by Classic FM as CD of the week and selected by Gramophone Magazine as Editor's Choice.

Equally at home as a chamber musician, Katya collaborates with Janine Jansen, Natalie Clein, Maxim Rysanov, Jack Liebeck, Boris Brovtsyn, Alexei Ogrinchouk and Nicholas Daniel among others.  In this capacity she is a regular guest at major chamber music festivals around the world.  

Born in Moscow into a family of musicians, she studied at the Gnessin music school for exceptionally gifted children under Ada Traub and Anna Kantor (the teacher of Evgeny Kissin).  At the age of 12 she performed a Mozart Concerto with Gnessin School Orchestra which was broadcast by Moscow Classical Radio.
 
In 1992 Katya continued her studies at the Rubin Music Academy in Jerusalem with Irina Berkovich.  There Katya won an America-Israel Scholarship and was awarded second prize at the Young Talents Radio Competition.  In 1994 Katya moved to London to study at the Royal College of Music with Irina Zaritskaya and in 1995 she was awarded President's Rose Bowl which was presented to her by HRH Prince of Wales.
 
In 1996, in addition to her successes in the Leeds and Scottish competitions, Katya won London Philharmonic Orchestra Soloist of the year and also the prestigious Terence Judd Award.
 
Katya has also collaborated on several recordings with the violinist Jack Liebeck, including a Classical Brit-nominated CD. 

This season highlights include Hummel Concerto with English Chamber Orchestra, performances at Ancona Festival(Italy) , "Music in Country Churches" Festival, Leicester Festival, and Grieg CD release on Quartz Label.

Future plans include Wigmore Hall solo recital, collaboration with English Chamber Orchestra, performance at "Spectrum Concert Series" in Berlin and CD release of Brahms chamber music on the Onyx Label with Maxim Rysanov and Boris Brovtsyn.

www.katyaapekisheva.com

After concert supper 5

After concert supper bookings for this concert is now closed.

MAIN: Breast of chicken with asparagus and lemon cream, served with summer vegetables and new potatoes.  
VEGETARIAN: Mediterranean vegetable lasagne with seasonal leaves and freshly made bread.
DESSERT: Treacle tart served with whipped cream. Coffee/tea.

If you wish to add your review to the concert please email your comments and they will be uploaded onto the website. Blackthorpe Barn reserves the right to edit comments submitted.

Green/De Fretas/Screech, London
Breath-taking! Superb! Extradordinary!

Arthur Winchester, Stowmarket
Excellent ensemble playing particularly in teh first of the Brahms trios and the Schumann piano quartet. The Op 114 trio might have been slighly better with the clarinet. BUT a lovely concert.

Mollie & David Evans, Bury St Edmunds
Two weekends of wonderful music are as good as a week's holiday.

Christina Ruddock, Rougham
What more could a mere mortal need? Wonderful, uplifting, heavenly music. An historic barn set in a lovely english countryside. Deleicious fodd and drink. this is the Blackthorpe Barn Summer Music experience. Not to be missed.

Mervyn Pearson, Creeting St Mary
First Half. Bit boring – not really the musicians' fault but Brahms original versions give more contrast and interest. Wanted more passion in the playing in places. Second Half. Bravo!