Slavic Voices: An Evening of Poetry & Music with Polina Barskova, Olga Lisovskaya, Alexander Polyakov, and Fred VanNess

The Center for the Study of Europe at Boston University, in collaboration with Chaliapin Center, presents Slavic Voices, a night of Russian language poetry and music. Renowned poet Polina Barskova will read from her own poems and from an anthology of poems composed during the winter of 1942, the most severe winter of the Nazi Siege of Leningrad (1941-1944).

Polina Barskova’s reading will be followed by slavic music performances by Olga Lisovskaya, Alex Polyakov, and Fred Van Ness. A reception with traditional Russian hors d'oeuvre and wine is included in ticket price. Barksova’s books will be available for purchase at the event.

About the Participants:

Polina Barskova is Associate professor of Russian Literature at Hampshire College. She received her B.A. from St. Petersburg State University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. Her scholarly publications include articles on Nabokov, the Bakhtin brothers, early Soviet film, and the aestheticization of historical trauma; namely, the Siege of Leningrad. She is the author of six books of poetry and one book of prose in Russian, and three books in English: This Lamentable City (Tupelo Press), The Zoo in Winter (Melville House), and Relocations (Zephyr Press).

Olga Lisovstkaya is a native of Kiev, Ukraine. Her most recent operatic highlights include the role of Oksana in Cossack beyond the Danube - the first National Ukrainan Opera - by S. Gulak-Artemovsky with the award-winning opera company Commonwealth Lyric Theater. It was an accomplished performance, which was praised by the critics, stating that Ms. Lisovskaya had a “perfectly formed soprano voice” and a “passionate characterization”. Ms. Lisovskaya received her B.A. with honors in International Politics and Economics (music and French minor) from Middlebury College. In addition to her B.A. degree, she holds a certificate from Ecole Normale de Musique d’Alfred Cortot in Paris, France, a certificate from L'Institut des Sciences Politiques in Paris, and an excellence diploma in piano from Kiev Youth Music School.

Alex Polyakov is a Ukrainian concert pianist, conductor and pedagogue. He is performing solo recitals, chamber music and collaborating with symphony orchestras regularly in the United States, Europe, and South America. He has participated in various festivals and music competitions (including the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Texas), and has received a number of awards (amongst others, at the Franz Liszt International Piano Competitions in Germany in 2009 and in the Netherlands in 2011). A founding director of Journey Music Academy, he is currently residing in Boston where teaches piano.

Tenor Fred C. VanNess Jr., noted for having a “domineering, fine voice” is a native of Kinder, Louisiana. Mr. VanNess has sung with numerous opera companies throughout New England including Don Jose in Carmen with the North End Music Performing Arts Center, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Longwood Opera, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with Opera del West. His other credits include Rodolfo in La Boheme, Dr. Cajus in Falstaff, Charlie in Das Kliene Magahonny and Fenton in Falstaff as part of the Montefeltro Music Festival in Novafeltria, Italy. Mr. VanNess also has an active career as a concert soloist. His concert credits include Handels’s Juddas Maccabeus and Messiah, Bach’s Cantata 131 and Scott Joplin's 100th Anniversary of his opera Treemonisha, an Aria Concert and Christmas concert with the Lake Charles Symphony and featured guest soloist with the Reagle Theatre for their Christmas Time show.

This event takes place at Cafe St. Petersburg, in Newton Center (across from Newton Center MBTA stop). Tickets: $25 (includes generous appetizers, wine, and gratuity)