[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts music review of Faliks•Cani Piano & Violin Duo concert at The Athena Foundation for the Arts.
To appreciate excellence at this level, all one has to do is sit back and let the magic wash over you. However, this time I was treated to a multilayered performance that would not only intrigue my ears but also delight my eyes with the masterworks of Alexey Steele. The first concert of The Athena Foundation for the Arts 2024 concert series was billed as a duo; Faliks•Cani Piano & Violin Duo, but it could have easily been billed as a trio. Two for the ears and one for the eyes.
This concert was different from all the other Athena concerts I have had the pleasure of attending. Inna Faliks at the piano was mesmerizing and valorous. I come for her brilliance, but I stay for the revelation she gives to the pieces. Roberto Cani on violin is in a class of his own, playing with exquisite tenderness and explosive flair. Together, these two are sublime.
However, there was a third entity during the performance. Alexey Steele’s paintings of landscapes and seascapes that were projected behind the musicians gave the concert another layer of beauty and relevance. As I listened to the music and looked at the imagery in front of me, I had this feeling of self examination; were the works painted for the musical pieces or were the pieces written for the paintings?
Another aspect of these Athena Foundation for the Arts concerts I love so much are in the selection of the pieces. In this case, Faliks chose piano solos from Franz Schubert and Frédéric Chopin, both transcribed by Franz List; Cani chose a violin solo by Eugène Yaÿe. For their duos, Faliks and Cani chose sonatas by Johannes Brahms and Ludwig van Beethoven.
The Community Auditorium was packed and during the performance, the audience was hypnotized with the sublime musings of these two world-class musicians. But when the music stopped, the audience, including myself, rose to our feet and played our own tune of appreciation and wonderment. I for one cannot wait for the next concert.
Fortunately for me, The Athena Foundation for the Performing Arts Concert Series has just begun. It is running from January through December 2024.