From Reverie to Rapture
Russian-born pianist Margarita Shevchenko brings her commanding artistry to FIU Wertheim for a solo recital in FOCM’s 71st Anniversary Season.
This compelling piano recital brings together three of the most distinctive voices in the piano repertoire, exploring a world of imagination, passion, and extraordinary musical expression. Ravel’s Ondine evokes a shimmering, mysterious world of water and enchantment, combining breathtaking virtuosity with exquisite delicacy and color. Three works by Scriabin reveal the composer’s richly expressive musical language, from the elegance and sensuality of the Waltz and the intimate lyricism of the Poème to the sweeping passion and dramatic intensity of the Fantasy.
The program culminates in Chopin’s magnificent Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor, one of the towering masterpieces of Romantic piano literature. Its soaring melodies, profound introspection, and exhilarating finale bring the recital to a thrilling conclusion. Together, these works trace a fascinating journey through contrasting musical landscapes, celebrating the piano’s remarkable capacity for poetry, emotional depth, and virtuosity.
- Ravel
Ondine - Scriabin
Valse, Op. 38, in A-flat major - Scriabin
Poème, Op. 32, No. 1, in F-sharp major - Scriabin
Fantasy, Op. 28, in B minor - Chopin
Sonata No. 3, Op. 58, in B minor
Watch Margarita Shevchenko
Artist Spotlight
Margarita Shevchenko
Margarita Shevchenko was born in Perm, in the Urals region of Russia. Coming from a musical family, she started playing piano at the age of 5. In 1983 she moved to Moscow to study at the renowned Moscow Central Music School and later at the Moscow State Conservatory.
Margarita’s teachers were Sergei Dizhur and Professor Vera Gornostayeva, both of whom were students of the legendary Heinrich Neuhaus — a teacher of many great pianists such as Emil Gilels, Sviatoslav Richter, and Radu Lupu.