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Pianist Inna Faliks Weaves Classical Piano Recital with Moving Story in “Polonaise Fantasie”

The Polonaise Fantasie will combine classical piano with spoken word to bring the journey of an eastern European artist to life.
The Polonaise Fantasie will combine classical piano with spoken word to bring the journey of an eastern European artist to life.

Classical music enthusiasts and theater lovers alike won’t want to miss the upcoming performance by Inna Faliks in the Ebell Club Lounge on Sunday, January 25th at 5 pm. A world-class pianist, Faliks will perform an intimate portrayal of her life for a limited audience, followed by a light supper. The event, “Polonaise Fantasie: Story of a Pianist” is open to the public

Inna Faliks shares her story of fleeing an oppressive life in Ukraine as a child, immigrating to the U.S., and taking on the rigorous training of a concert pianist. The story is told in a unique performance that is part classical piano recital, and part spoken word. Actress Rebecca Mozo will read portions of  Faliks’ intimate memoir, interspersed with Faliks playing pieces by Chopin, Bach and Mozart which lend a powerful soundtrack to her personal saga.

Inna Faliks. Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco
Inna Faliks. Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

“Inna is a  renaissance woman,” Cynthia Comsky, program chair for the event told the Larchmont Buzz. “She is so talented and still so young, with much ahead of her. Inna’s story of leaving the Ukraine is an odyssey and an amazing journey in itself. But add to that the story of what it takes to become a concert pianist, and throw in a big time love story and it becomes more than fascinating – it becomes epic. The most interesting aspect is that what we get to hear – Inna performing on the piano – is the end result of her journey. We usually would have no idea what it takes for someone to get where they are today, but we get to experience  both the journey and the result,” Comsky shared.

Comsky noted that the performance would also be inspiring and appropriate for teenage-level piano students.

“This is a new form of performance,” Faliks told the Larchmont Buzz in a telephone interview. “The world of theater and the world of classical music performance, such as recitals,  don’t often mix.  But I’ve focused on the combination of poetry and music through my Music/Words program that explores connections between poetry and music. This is slightly different, yet the same.”

Faliks performed a similar type of  work in Chicago  with Downton Abbey actress Lesley Nicol (Mrs. Patmore) in Chicago last year titled “Admission: One Shilling.” The Polonaise Fantasie was created from the memoir of her life Faliks is writing, which Comsky found enthralling. Comsky inspired Faliks to mold the memoir into a production for the Ebell PlayDate program, a monthly revue for new theater. “I’m very excited to be working with director Cameron Watson, and to have someone as beautiful as actress Rebecca Mozo play my character,” Faliks said.

Inna Faliks played her debut with the Chicago Symphony at age 15, and performs regularly at major venues in the US and abroad including Carnegie Hall, Paris’s Salle Cortot, the Metropolitan Museum, and in multiple TV and radio broadcasts worldwide. She moved from New York City to Los Angeles two years ago to accept a tenured position as Associate Professor of Piano at UCLA’s Herb Albert School of Music.

Faliks will also be performing a solo recital in LACMA’s Bing Theater on January 18 at 6 pm. The program will include Brahms Sonata in F sharp minor, Tchaikovsky’s rarely heard Variations in a minor, and Bartok’s Fifteen Hungarian Peasant Songs and will be a live internet broadcast.

Sponsored Post

Polonaise Fantasie: Life of a Pianist
Sunday, Jan 25, 2015 – 5 pm
The Ebell of Los Angeles
741 S Lucerne Blvd, free parking in lot across the street
$35/member, $40/non-member includes a light supper after the performance
Purchase tickets
 

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Julie Grist
Julie Grist
Julie co-founded the Larchmont Buzz with fellow buzzer Mary Hawley in 2011 and served as Editor, Publisher and writer for the hive for many years until the sale of the Buzz in August 2015. She is still circling the hive as an occasional writer.

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