In its 20 years, Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts has celebrated the artistry of pianists – who were a favorite of founder and President Arthur Steffee, whose one-year anniversary of his passing will be remembered this weekend. He himself studied in his youth both the violin and flute/piccolo – and especially appreciated pianists having invented prosthetic hand joints in his early orthopedic career. Known for his love of rhapsodic melodic lines that brought him to tears, he would say to pianists “How do you do it – and remembering all those notes?”

In his last years, international piano competition laureates Sean Chen (also a brilliant composer and arranger), David Allen Wehr, Cynthia Raim, Alec Chien and Gayle Martin delighted him and definitive Prokofiev and Ginastera interpreter Barbara Nissman was the last to perform for him and his wife Marybeth after a concert in their StoneRidge home. His untimely passing last year, meant he didn’t hear the introspective 90th birthday performance of Kenny Broberg – medal winner in the Tchaikovsky and Van Cliburn competitions – or the stunning performance last fall of Svetlana Smolina… both of which would have amazed him!
In a triumphant return by popular demand after two standing ovations on Sunday, August 10, the profoundly gifted Svetlana Smolina, a true virtuoso, celebrated ARCA’s 20th anniversary continuing this pianistic tradition with a spectacular performance of Romantic masterworks and hardest-in-the-repertoire showstoppers for an audience of all ages from around the six-county region.
Before playing a note, as the audience gasped at her entrance, Lincoln Hall was incandescent with her beauty and Hollywood glamour. In an extraordinary mix unequalled in the classical piano concert world today, her beauty coupled with the personal warmth she exudes, her charming program commentary and anecdotes (including one about winning her first gold prize at the age of 14), found the audience gob smacked by her thrilling performance of Romantic masterworks and the most demanding ‘encore’ works in the repertoire – from Moszkowski’s Caprice Espanol to Balakirev’s Islamey.
It was an afternoon of tour de force and consummate pianism that left the audience breathless and asking, “Who does this – and where – and how blessed are we to be here in this intimate hall in the little village of Foxburg inspired by this world class artist?” Quipping afterwards, an audience member said we were fortunate not to be paying Svetlana “per note” – in response to the phenomenal speed and velocity of all the notes she performed so effortlessly with her colossal technical prowess.
Svetlana’s artistic magic, however, eclipsed her sophisticated musical athleticism. Her pyrotechnical facility and speed always fit the music, as if providing a more compact perspective for the work. Within the whirl of all those notes in works that well-seasoned pianists sweat over for a lifetime, she communicated elegance and grace in tender moments of touching lyricism with subtle flourishes.
Words like divine were used by audience members to attempt to describe the combination of artistry, beauty and personal dynamism she brings with heartfelt generosity to her audience. The artist descriptor “total package” takes on new meaning with Svetlana Smolina. And the Lincoln Hall Steinway never sounded as rich and responsive – from the full bodied, thundering bass and crystalline tinkling upper strings to the subtle colors she painted in the Debussy prelude, “Fireworks.” The audience left enraptured once again – asking, “Please, can she come back next season?” including the very generous sponsors of this year’s concert, Dan and Karen Mortland.

That Svetlana is as warm and personable as she is talented and beautiful is equally rare.
At the Meet the Artist reception at the Red Brick Gallery following the concert for the exhibit Artisans 3 featuring photographer Dennis Keyes, watercolorist Angela Hardwick and necklace maker Susan Ferrandiz, Svetlana graciously conversed and interacted with audience members. Taking photos with many at their request, a young pianist won’t forget comparing the size of his hand with hers.

As the concert crowd began to clear and well-known blues vocalist Lori Russo stepped up to the mike and sang with jazz pianist and RBG cooperative word-working artist Mark DeWalt providing background music, Svetlana joined those swinging to the joyous sounds.
Truly a day to remember… and savor – until next season.