Melodiya Chamber Ensemble

Sergey Rakitchenkov and Arkady Serper are both graduates of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory who began their distinguished careers in the major concert halls of Europe and Russia before immigrating to the United States. Rakitchenkov is a long-standing member of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Serper a prominent pianist, composer, and faculty member at the Crowden School. Their performances are well known for a colorful, literate style, as well as an exacting technical precision. Featuring expressive collaboration between the musicians and compelling variations in instrument combinations, including several transcription premieres. The members of Melodiya also display an eclectic sensibility in their presentations, performing works from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, all with equal aplomb. For this program they present works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Kodály.