PRAISE: TWO PIANOS PREMIERE
"A historically resonant presentation . . .[that] grows from dark and tangled memories."
-- Julia Klein, Pennsylvania Gazette (Oct. 2018), "Nothing Mattered But the Music"
"‘Two
Pianos is a salute to the human spirit ... [a] remarkable performance, along with the impressive. . . display of artifacts... Last Saturday at the Queen Street
Settlement Music School was a joyous celebration, with two accomplished young
pianists, Stanislava Varshavski and Diana Shapiro, immigrants from the Ukraine
and Russia, playing some of the music that Anna and her best friend and pianist
partner Halima Neuman played at Kulturbund concerts in the 1930s. As Jean
explained in her remarks, she wanted professional women pianists who were
married with children, just like her mother and her mother’s partner Halina. And the music they played ...was sublime!"
-- Bonnie
Squires , Main Line Media News. Link to full article
"Congratulations ... on creating a really
wonderful event. . . . I had to be there to really understand what the multi-media
experience would be like, and . . . it was deeply moving as
well as artistically beautiful and educational. An amazing fusion of
history, concert, and family photo album."
"What a
glorious evening. Everything was perfect - superb musicians, fascinating story
captured in the exhibit, brilliant fact-finding and research, all presented by
warm, loving comments from you, Michael, Kenneth and the pianists. It couldn’t have been better."
-- Susan Glazer, Dean, Philadelphia College of the Arts (ret.), Philadelphia PA
". . .an old and new tale, poignant and [dramatic]. All in one, a human survival story. Thank you so much!"
-- Iryna Shahova, born Kiev, naturalized American, Gaithersburg MD
"Fantastic concert and performance was so touching and impressive! Everything, starting from organization, exhibit, concert, performance and the whole mood were extraordinary and memorable."
-- Igor Mizine & Marina Mizina, born Leningrad, naturalized Americans, Rockville MD
"Your
devotion has made Two Pianos and its story
realized. A beautiful legacy.... Two
Pianos is heading into a new phase -- now the
program is ready to go out into the world. "
-- Gail Prensky, Founder, Judishe Kulturbund Project,Washington DC
"It was a
wonderful, amazing culmination of many [efforts] and a testimony to the power of music. ... wonderful outcome -
Exhibit, video . . . such an informative program!!"
-- Marlea Gruver, Adult Chamber Players performer, Philadelphia
"Your event was amazing. So interesting to learn about your family’s journey. It made me think more about my family’s journeys which I intend to explore further."
-- Toby
Needler, writer and education teacher, Brooklyn College Academy, New York
-- Margot Jones, NYC public school teacher (ret.), Peace Corps volunteer, world traveler