Opening concert of 2021 as part of our In Honorable Company virtual concert series being recorded at the fourth floor Armory of Faneuil Hall. This program explores emigres from the Russian empire who settled in the US, France, Israel and England, and the music they wrote about their original as well adopted homelands. Streaming premiere Jan 31, available on-demand Jan 31-Feb 7.

Migration and Memory includes songs and romances in 5 languages, by 12 composers, among them IRVING BERLIN, RACHMANINOFF, GLAZUNOV, STRAVINSKY, PROKOFIEV, who lived in a total of 6 different countries (for complete program see further below). The concert, recorded live on January 14th, 2021 will have its streaming premiere on January 31st at 6pm, followed at 7 pm by a virtual Q&A with singer Tanya Bertier and pianist Sima Kustanovich on Zoom, where you can ask questions and converse with them as well as other listeners.

Now that the streaming premiere has taken place, links to the unlisted Youtube video of the concert will be sent to all new registrees soon after the order processes. You will receive the link separately from the automatic Eventbrite payment confirmation. The stream will remain available through February 8th.

Your ticket purchases and donations are shared by BRAI and the artists. Free registration ends on the date of the streaming premiere, but a donation of any amount can allow you to watch the concert after that.

TANYA BERTIER started her musical training in Krivoi Rog, Ukraine at the age of six. Having graduated from a specialized music school there, she moved to Israel where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. Later, she completed a performance Master’s at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv. Initially a lyrical mezzo soprano, she performed as a soloist of Women Vocalise Ensemble, and took on operatic roles such as that of Carmen (Carmen) and Polina (Dame de Pique) with the Ashdod Chamber Opera and Theatre ‘Cameropera’ of Ramat HaSharon. With time and experience, her voice has evolved to full dramatic mezzo. Ms. Bertier commenced her US career performing in two productions of Hansel und Gretel at the New York Opera Forum and the New York Lyric Opera (interpreting the roles of the Witch and Gertrude, respectively). Other roles followed, including Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), La Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Princess de Bouillon (Adriana Lecouvreur), Amneris (Aida), Azucena (Il Trovatore), Madame de la Haltiere (Cendrillon), Third Lady (The Magic Flute), and of course Waltraute (Götterdämmerung) Erda (Das Rheingold) and Fricka (Die Walküre) from the Wagner repertoire. Ms. Bertier is a guest soloist at numerous performance halls and made her Carnegie Hall debut in the Opera Showcase program. Recently she was chosen as a finalist of the Wagner, Strauss and Mahler International Vocal Competition.

SIMA KUSTANOVICH is one of the Northeast's most sought after pianists. Hailed by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette for the "extraordinary intensity and brilliance of her playing," she has performed in acclaimed international venues, including France's Courchevel Chamber Music Festival, New York City's BargeMusic, Toronto's Royal Conservatory Chamber Music Series, Niagara on the Lake Music Festival, Summit Festival, Sweden's St. Jacob's Cathedral, Hungary's Matthias Cathedral, Prague’s Hlahol and major cities of Russia, Austria, Italy and Estonia. Currently on the faculties of Clark University, where she was appointed Distinguished Artist in 2008, and Walnut Hill School for Performing Arts, she previously had appointments at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and the famed Leningrad Opera and Ballet Theater, where she worked intensively with such luminaries as Mikhail Baryshnikov and Natalia Makarova.

BALLETS RUSSES ARTS INITIATIVE is a Boston-based non-profit cultural organization that fosters international creative exchange in the visual and performing arts and film, and connects communities in the US and Eurasia. BRAI carries out public programs throughout Massachusetts, the East Coast and internationally, and BR360 Member programs in the Boston area. www.ballets-russes.com

THE ANCIENT AND HONORABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY is a service organization preserving historic and civic traditions of Boston, Massachusetts, and the United States. The oldest chartered military organization in the western hemisphere, the Ancients have had their headquarters and Museum on the fourth floor of historic Faneuil Hall since 1742. Historically, members of this Company have served in every Massachusetts colonial war and national conflict since the company's founding in 1638. Today they participate in national holiday celebrations, add a measure of pomp and pageantry to the great events of our city and the Commonwealth and turn out for special commemorations. www.ahac.us.com

Complete program

Irving BERLIN (1888-1989) Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1911)

Sasha ARGOV (1914-1995) Song of the Land / Shir Eretz (1970)

Mordechai ZE’IRA (1905-1968) What Say Your Eyes / Ma Omrot Eynaykh (1956)

Arnold PERLMUTTER(1859-1953) + Herman WOHL (1877-1936), music; Boris THOMASHEFSKY (1868-1939), lyrics. Long Live Columbus / Lebn Zol Columbus (1915)

Sergey RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943) How Fair This Spot / Zdes Khorosho (1902) Op.21 No.7

Nikolai MEDTNER (1880-1951) The Wanderer’s Night Song / Wandrers Nachtlied (1901-05) Op.6 No.1 (words by Goethe)

Nikolai TCHEREPNIN (1873-1945) I would have kissed you / Ia b tebia potselovala (1904) Op. 21. No.4

Nikolai TCHEREPNIN (1873-1945) Autumn Song / Chant d’automne (1900) Op.7 No.1

Igor STRAVINSKY (1882-1971) Three Children’s Stories / Trois Histoires pour Enfants (Tilimbom; Geese, Swans; The Bear’s Song, 1917)

Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) Katerina (1944)

Sergey PROKOFIEV (1891-1953) The Spell of Water and Fire / Zaklinanie Vody I Ognia (1921) Op.36 No.1

Alexander GLAZUNOV (1865-1936) Eastern Romance / Romance Orientale (1890) Op.27 No.2 (words by Pushkin)

Sergey RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943) Ne poi krasavitsa pri mne / Do not sing for me fair maiden (1892) Op.4 No.4

Irving BERLIN (1888-1989) God Bless America (1918/1938)