[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts music review of The Vieness Piano Duo Holiday Concert at The Athena Foundation for the Arts 2023 Concert Series.
One might expect a holiday concert to feel soft and familiar — like a well-worn, favorite Christmas sweater. It may conjure up images of gently simmering fireplaces and warm bellies filled with eggnog. These are the sorts of sensations brought to life by holiday standards like Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.
But The Vieness Piano Duo Holiday Concert does something quite different, and I’m happy to say their ambitious bet pays off.
These world-class musicians weave a thoroughly unique tapestry for their holiday themed recital — one that is epic, exciting, and filled with the sort of grand, emotional peaks and valleys that can only be captured by classical music. The players: Eva Schaumkell and Vijay Venkatesh. Together, they form The Vieness Piano Duo, a partnership that yields a truly dynamic and evocative sound.
Schaumkell and Venkatesh’s classical music journey has taken them all over the world. As soloists, they have found captive ears and hearts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Buckingham Palace, Steinway Hall London, and Vienna Music Festival to name a few. Their track record of renown is evident — which is why it is such a delight to see their travels overlap with our vibrant arts district here in North Hollywood.
The musical prowess and masterwork expertise The Vieness Piano Duo brought to the auditorium was nothing short of staggering. The husband and wife duo have a clear instinct for communication and collaborative play, resulting in a fabulously rich twin performance that is as engaging as it is complex. Their hands dance in perfectly executed harmony, making use of the full range of expression the grand piano has to offer. One moment their music is bold and vivacious — the next it is delicate and intimate. It’s a sumptuous feast of sonorities that left my fellow audience members and I totally enrapt.
The program is perfectly crafted, featuring classics from the annals of Christmas and classical music alike, with such favorites as Nutcracker Suite and White Christmas. There are some pieces that will only be familiar to the most ardent aficionado of classical music, but all are performed with grace and world-class talent. A number of the compositions are even arranged by Schaumkell and Venkatesh themselves; work that blends seamlessly into a program marked by classical music giants like Tchaikovsky and Bach.
I was thoroughly impressed by the stunning musical aptitude on display at The Vieness Piano Duo Holiday Concert. To any readers who consider themselves connoisseurs of classical music, or lovers of good music in general, I would thoroughly encourage an active interest in the masterwork musical exploits of Eva Schaumkell and Vijay Venkatesh. I am confident that you will not be disappointed.
The Athena Foundation for the Arts is the event organizer. Linda Wehril is the Artistic Director, whose tireless efforts produced this magnificent concert. please subscribe to stay tuned for upcoming concerts of this caliber, brought to the stage in NoHo.