The Artist Series 2016-17 Concert Season comes to a close on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 4 p.m. in Opperman Music Hall with Russian piano duo Vassily Primakov & Natalia Lavrova.

“Every poignant phrase took ethereal wing.” -Cleveland Plain Dealer      

“Lavrova and Primakov play with brilliance and depth. They have excellent unity and do not hesitate to go with full power.“ -MusicWeb International.

Vassily Primakov has been hailed as a pianist of world class importance. American Record Guide stated: "Since Gilels, how many pianists have the right touch? In Chopin, no one currently playing sounds as good as this! This is a great Chopin pianist." In 1999, as a  prizewinner of the Cleveland International Piano Competition, Primakov was praised by Donald Rosenberg of the Cleveland Plain Dealer: "How many pianists can make a line sing as the Moscow native did on this occasion? Every poignant phrase took ethereal wing. Elsewhere the music soared with all of the turbulence and poetic vibrancy it possesses. We will be hearing much from this remarkable musician."

Pianist Natalia Lavrova is a highly-regarded performer of multi-faceted artistry, whose sincerity of interpretation and beguiling charm upon the stage has won the hearts of audiences across the United States and Europe. Ms. Lavrova enjoys a diverse career upon the international platform, and additionally holds substantial positions in the worlds of arts administration and pedagogy.

Recital performances have taken Ms. Lavrova throughout her native Russia to Canada, France, Hungary, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States, to include notable New York venues such as Steinway Hall, Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, and Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center.  Ms. Lavrova has captured top prizes at the New Orleans, Isabel Scionti, Frinna Auerbach, Heidi Hermanns, Music Academy of the West, Silver Lake, and Senigallia International Piano Competitions. Upon her debut at the Leeds International Piano Competition, Ms. Lavrova was the youngest performer of 1996 admitted to the quarterfinal round.