Concert Pianist Vladimir Svoysky

Will Offer Free Performance

SOUTHBURY — Whether Vladimir Svoysky is seated at the piano or standing before an orchestra, baton in hand, his approach to music is pure passion – a passion born from the formative years he spent in his native Russia.

Mr Svoysky will be performing at East Hill Woods auditorium, 611 East Hill Road, on Tuesday, September 26, at 7:15 pm. The concert is open to the public free of charge.

Born in Leningrad, Mr Svoysky studied piano under the Russian great Berta Maranz. He toured Russia with the Gorky Philharmonic, and performed piano recitals throughout the country and on Russian television.

After earning degrees in piano, organ and conducting from the Leningrad and Gorky conservatories, he accepted his government’s instructions to go to Siberia. His assignment? To build a symphony orchestra, literally from scratch. Mr Svoysky traveled across the former USSR to find the country’s top musicians and brought them together under the banner of Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra, which he led as musical director for three years.

Despite his success, the young Russian could not help chafing under the restrictive hold the government held over his musical life.

“I felt my life as a musician was limited,” he recalled. “I could not travel outside the country.” So in 1979, Vladimir Svoysky immigrated to the United States. American audiences have been the beneficiaries of his musical gifts ever since.

For additional information, including what the gifted concert pianist will be performing Tuesday evening, call 262-6161.