THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY College of Music presents the
XIII ANNUAL PIANO COMPETITIVE FESTIVAL
Guest Artist Recital
(Elegy)
Stuart-Ivanov Duo
Carolyn Stuart, violin and Svetozar Ivanov, piano
Thursday, March 2, 2022 7:30 p.m. | Dohnányi Recital Hall
The Armoire
Nocturne Nikolai Roslavets
Poème Romantique (1881–1944)
Three Poems
Three Dances
Prelude
The Armoire – animation by Andrei Khrjanovsky
Documentary footage from Soviet Russia
Poetry by Anna Akhmatova (recited by the poet)
INTERMISSION
In the Time of the Daffodils
ONE
Stille Nacht
Alfred Schnittke (b. 1934)
Prelude Lera Auerbach (b. 1973)
Hommage à J.S.B. Valentin Silvestrov (b. 1937)
Poetry by E. E. Cummings
Dissolve – animation by Leslee Smucker
TWO
Tango Alfred Schnittke
A la Albeniz Rodion Shchedrin (b. 1932)
In your Arms – animation by Fx Goby
THREE
Duo Concertante Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)
The Green Violinist – painting by Marc Chagall
Anémic cinéma – film footage by Marcel Duchamp
Marc Chagall – poem by Paul Eluard
FOUR
Elegy Valentin Silvestrov
In time of Daffodils – poem by E. E. Cummings
Field recording from The Valley of Daffodils in Ukraine Carolyn Stuart, violin
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Violin playing described as “tonally resplendent and affectingly assured both stylistically and technically” (Fanfare Magazine) and a performer of “astonishing effectiveness, radiant inspiration, deep sensitivity, and colossal temperament” (Musical Horizons - Sofia), violinist Carolyn Stuart performs internationally as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. She has appeared at Carnegie, Merkin, and Steinway Halls in NYC, REDCAT in L.A., Katzen Arts Center in D.C., Salle Gaveau and Association Philomuses in Paris, the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, The Bethaniënklooster in Amsterdam, Royal College of Music in London, Pushkin House and Mansfield 22 in London, Salon Christophori in Berlin, American University in Athens, University of Toronto, Royal Academy of Music in Denmark, Royal Irish Academy of Music, Teatro del Sale in Florence, Incontro Sulla Tastiera in Vicenza, and the Zurich and Vincenza Conservatories. Festival appearances have included Green Mountain, Chautauqua, Interlochen, Garth Newel, Hot Springs, Pine Mountain, Killington, and internationally in the Netherlands – Peter de Gröte, Bulgaria – Salon des Arts, International Music Festival, and Sofia Music Weeks, and Italy – Terre d’Arezzo Toscana, Classicariano Avellino, and AutunnoMusicale Caserta.
For over two decades Carolyn Stuart has toured as a member of the Stuart-Ivanov Duo with pianist Svetozar Ivanov, often presenting recitals with unusual concert formats combining music with other art forms. Their critically acclaimed Gega New CD, Nikolai Roslavets: Short Works for Violin and Piano is dedicated to the rarely performed music of this repressed Soviet composer.
As one of the four internationally acclaimed members of MoVE (modernviolinensemble.com), Stuart is avidly commissioning and recording works with this innovative violin quartet which has premiered works of leading composers such as Evan Chambers, Daniel Wohl, Jessica Meyer, Jonathan Berger, Seung-Won Oh, Tommy Dougherty, and Jordan Nelson. A soloist with the Sofia Philharmonic, she premiered Victor Chouchkov’s Triple Concerto, which she also recorded with the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra. Along with members of her clarinet trio, Qthree, she has recorded the premiere of Kati Agocs’ song cycle Imagination of Their Hearts on the CD Ice Age and Beyond: Works by Canadian Women Composers and has recently premiered Evan K. Chambers’ quartet transcription of his epic orchestral work, The Old Burying Ground, for voice-violin-clarinet-piano. A devoted performer of Evan Chambers’ music, she has recorded a significant body of his chamber music for her Albany CD with Quorum, Cold Water, Dry Stone: New Music with Traditional Roots. Named “Critics Choice” by American Record Guide, her Bridge CD with the Green Mountain Chamber Music Players, American Flute Quintets, features the world-premiere recording of Joan Tower’s Rising alongside works by Arthur Foote and Amy Beach with preeminent flutist Carol Wincenc.
Carolyn Stuart is Director of Strings and Chamber Music at the Brancaleoni International Music Festival in Italy, Artist-Faculty at Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, in Vermont, Associate Professor of Violin at University of South Florida, and recent Visiting Violin Professor at DePaul University School of Music. Stuart earned degrees from The Juilliard School (BM), University of Michigan (MM), and Stony Brook University (DMA). Stuart’s recordings may be heard regularly on BBC and WQXR Playlists, and on Bridge, Gega New, Albany, Capstone, Glorious Pantheons, Ravello, and Blue Griffin labels.
Pianist Svetozar Ivanov has made numerous appearances as recitalist and orchestra soloist worldwide. All Music Guide and Fanfare Magazine praised his recent solo CDs; the album Naked Tango was called “superbly original, quite moving, personal and musically absorbing” while his CD Vers la flamme was celebrated for performances which were “played with aplomb, panache and complete conviction” and interpretation “filled with sensual longing, anguished yearning, anxious dread and provocative energy.” Regarding his album Echo one reviewer wrote: “Ivanov’s most distinctive gift as a pianist is his ability to draw us inward, which imparts the feeling that we’re approaching a mystery.” Dream Images was hailed for “performances of purified beauty that can leave you breathless” and his most recent album Intermissions was praised for its “combination of maturity, deeply felt expression, and dignity.”
Recent performance venues include Carnegie, Merkin, and Steinway Halls in New York City, Salle Gaveau in Paris, Splendor and Bethaniënklooster in Amsterdam, Guildhall, Royal College, and Goldsmith in London, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Razumovsky Salon in Vienna, Salon Chritophori in Berlin, RNCM in Manchester, Royal Academy of Music in Denmark, RCS in Prague, Sequoia Concerts in San Francisco, as well as numerous concert series at universities throughout the US. Recent festival appearances include “Pianomaster”, “PianoEchos”, “Terre d’Arezzo”, “Autunno Musicale”, and “Classicariano” in Italy, “Krakow Piano Festival” in Poland, “Música de Besalú” in Spain, “Pianotune” in Belgium, “Seiler” in Greece, “Walled City” in Northern Ireland, “Salon des Arts” and “Sofia Music Weeks” in Bulgaria, “Peter the Great” in the Netherlands, “Chautauqua” in New York, “Killington” in Vermont, and “Fox River” in Wisconsin.
Svetozar Ivanov is especially recognized for his creative work designing unusual concert formats combining music with other art forms (documentary footage, art films, animation, poetry, short stories, live dance improvisation, paintings, lighting design, live streaming). His DVD Perpetual Tango explores the synthesis between music, movement, multimedia, and was released by Naxos in 2018. His latest video projects include Music of Shadows and the Poetry Series - a poetry inspired collection of twelve short films.
Svetozar Ivanov is Professor of Piano at University of South Florida, serves as Artist Faculty at Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival in Vermont, Prague Piano Festival in Czech Republic, Brancaleoni International Music Festival in Italy, and is the Artistic Director of the Steinway Piano Series in Florida. He is a Steinway Artist and holds degrees from the Bulgarian National Conservatory and University of Michigan (Doctor of Musical Arts).
To Ensure An Enjoyable Concert Experience For All…
Please refrain from talking, entering, or exiting during performances. Food and drink are prohibited in all concert halls. Recording or broadcasting of the concert by any means, including the use of digital cameras, cell phones, or other devices is expressly forbidden. Please deactivate all portable electronic devices including watches, cell phones, pagers, hand-held gaming devices or other electronic equipment that may distract the audience or performers.
Recording Notice: This performance may be recorded. Please note that members of the audience may at times be included in this process. By attending this performance you consent to have your image or likeness appear in any live or recorded video or other transmission or reproduction made in conjunction to the performance.
Florida State University provides accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please notify the College of Music at (850) 644-3424 at least five working days prior to a musical event to request accommodation for disability or alternative program format.