Narrative Musicale: America the Bassooniful

Konstantin Soukhovetski, piano

Eleni Katz, bassoon

Gershwin, arr. Katz — Rhapsody in Blue

Copland — Dirge in Woods

Cindi Hsu — Spring Fever: Pastorale & Fever

Bernstein — West Side Story Medley

Take a captivating journey with the bassoon through the diverse soundscapes of American music. From introspective and lyrical moments to bursts of rhythmic energy and jazzy flair, Eleni Katz brings the bassoon’s full range to life in this vibrant celebration of sound. Konstantin Soukhovetski illuminates each work with context and stories that celebrate the spirit and diversity of American culture.

This Narrative Musicales presentation is part of the Grand Piano Series.

About the artists:

Eleni Katz

Hailed for her virtuosity and vibrant musical spirit, bassoonist Eleni Katz has established herself as a prominent soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Her “thoughtful and expressive” (San Diego Union Tribune) approach to music making has led her to performances by the bright blue waters of Bermuda to the lights of Carnegie Hall. Katz is a winner of the 2022 Concert Artist Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition and has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Nu Deco Ensemble, the Jupiter Chamber Players, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony, the Sarasota Orchestra, and as a member with the New World Symphony. Other recent appearances include the La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest, the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Series, the Lake George Music Festival, the Phoenix Chamber Music Society, the Death of Classical: The Crypt Sessions and Newport Classical. Her approach to playing the bassoon has been described as “uncannily human” (The Royal Gazette), and she has always believed that the bassoon should emulate the organic nature of the human voice.

Konstantin Soukhovetski

Konstantin Soukhovetski is a pianist, composer and educator who is the winner of 17 awards from prestigious international piano competitions. Soukhovetski has performed to critical acclaim at leading venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall (London) and the Louvre (Paris).

As the newly appointed director of education and community engagement at Grand Piano Series in Naples, Soukhovetski brings his dynamic combination of performance and audience interaction honed through his acclaimed presentations on music at the Curtis Institute of Music, Northwestern University, Singapore’s Academy of Music, Latvia’s Jelgava Music School and as an adjunct faculty member at his alma mater, The Juilliard School. Born in Moscow to a family of artists, Soukhovetski studied at the Moscow Central Music School, where he double majored in piano and composition.

Soukhovetski’s Pride Suite for piano is enjoying world premieres this season, and his first symphonic work, Once Upon the Spring, will be performed with the Auburn Symphony in California and the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras. He now resides in Naples, where he enjoys the rich cultural offerings, beautiful weather and the thriving artistic community.