Pianist Irina Kataeva to perform Russian piano works of the early 20th century, Oct. 15

MIDDLEBURY, Vt.?On Saturday, Oct. 15, at 8 p.m., Russian pianist Irina Kataeva will perform in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall at Middlebury College. The program of 20th century Russian piano works will proceed chronologically from the late 1800s through the 1970s, and include selections from Prokofiev, Pasternak, Roslavets and Shostakovich. The event is free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged to help aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

According to Kataeva, new musical forms arose in Russia in the early 20th century and quickly influenced the culture of the Western world - from Sergey Prokofiev, who shocked St. Petersburg with his daring pieces for piano in the early 1900s, to Dmitri Shostakovich, who later helped introduce Europe and the United States to the best of the Russian artistic world.

In her program of solo piano pieces, Kataeva will present little-known selections from both the Moscow and St. Petersburg schools of Russian music. She also will deliver commentary on each composer to place the works in context.

An honor graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, Kataeva has made her reputation as a performer of contemporary piano works. Recent Sony Classics recordings of the keyboardist Gyorgy Ligeti feature her in performance, including a work the composer dedicated to her. Kataeva has performed, led master classes, and served as an organizer at numerous music festivals throughout Europe. She is currently a professor at the National School of Music and Dance in Paris.

The Middlebury College Center for the Arts is located on South Main Street (Route 30). For more information, contact the Middlebury College Box Office at 802-443-6433 or www.middlebury.edu/arts.