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Former Soviet pianist
Vladimir Feltsman enjoys U.S. career.

SUZANNE CHESSLER

Special to the Jewish News

ianist-conductor Vladimir
Feltsman doesn't like to do a
lot of talking about the music
he performs. He'd rather pick
his programs carefully and then let the
notes stand as their own uncompro-
mised form of expression.
When Feltsman presents a solo recital
March 20 at the Wharton Center for
Performing Arts in East Lansing, he will
be communicating through the music of
two of his favorite corn-
posers — Bach and
Chopin.
"I think that music,
when it's properly
done, speaks for itself,"
says Feltsman, 50, who
performs only on
Steinway keyboards. "If
music is not eloquent
enough, then whatever
amount of words that
could be said about it
would not help."
Feltsman, who was
trained in piano at the
Moscow Tchaikovsky
State Conservatory of
Music and in conduct-
ing at the Moscow and
Leningrad (now St.
Petersburg) conservatories, also is
restrained about discussing the circum-
stances that led to his coming to
America in 1987 from the former Soviet
Union.
The musician was among 52,000 Jews
seeking exit visas at the time, according
to the Florida Times- Union.
That action placed him in musical
exile for eight years even though he had
established an international following
through engagements in Europe and
Japan. Confined to the former Soviet
Union when the government declined to
issue him travel visas, he was not allowed
to play in his own country either.
Feltsman ultimately was helped in his
quest to come to America by former
President Ronald Reagan, who interced-
ed with Soviet authorities. A White
House concert became the pianist's pro-
fessional introduction to United States
audiences.
"It was my way of saying thank you,"

p

Ariana Segal

West Bloomfield

explains Feltsman, who has gone on to
perform in concert halls around the
country.
The pianist-conductor enlarged his
career with recordings, most recently
with works by Bach and Chopin, and
with teaching assignments. He's taught
at the State University of New York at
New Paltz, the Mannes College of
Music in New York City and the
International Festival-Institute Piano
Summer at New Paltz, where he is artis-
tic director.
"I help any particular student in any
particular way he or she
needs," says Feltsman,
whose parents, as musi-
cal artists, encouraged
their son's career.
Feltsman, who was
allowed to return to
Moscow in 1991 for
performances in the
concert halls from
which he had been
banned, has devised a
project to recognize
Russian artists. It will
be previewed at venues
outside New York City
before coming to
Lincoln Center in

2003.
The cultural event,
"Masterpieces of the
Russian Underground," will center
around 14 modern composers. Each will
have his or her piece performed by
chamber instrumentalists. There also will
be poetry readings, film showings, art-
work displays and discussions.
"Bach is and will be my favorite com-
poser, and I play as much Bach as I pos-
sibly can," says Feltsman, who has enter-
tained in Israel and recorded with the
Israel Philharmonic conducted by Zubin
Mehta. "Bach's music has nothing to do
with our time, the future or the past. It's
eternal." ❑

Gail Offen

Hartland

Bert Green

Farmington Hills

Laura Rose

\ West Bloomfield

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Vladimir Feltsman performs
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20,
at the Wharton Center for ,
Performing Arts on the campus of
Michigan State University in East
Lansing. $28. (800) 942-7866.

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