Karachiites welcome Russian artists. 
Any Russian music fans out there?
**Karachiites welcome interaction with cultural symbols from all corners of the world. Recently, a select audience of Karachiites and diplomats manning their missions in the city, were invited by the consul general of the Russian Federation and Mrs Vladimir P. Mikhaylov to an exclusive performance in classical music by two eminent singers from Russia. Olga Iakounina, a mezzo-soprano (a voice between soprano and contralto) and tenor Niccolai Vassilev. They were assisted by Sergey on the piano. **
The world famous trio have been acclaimed by audiences they have performed for in Italy, France, England and several other countries. This evening they focused on the evolution of opera in the nineteenth century - the most eventful period for opera and operatic development - selecting arias and segments from the work of two eminent Russian composers; Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky and Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky and their Italian contemporaries Georges Bizet and Kaccini. They represented the development of four particular styles of opera evolving at the time with specific contributions of each.
The evening was initiated by Olga accompanied on the piano by Sergey, with bet canto in two movements starting with allegro and moving on to scherzo. As Sergey’s fingers flitted over the black and ivory keys in perfect harmony, Olga’s mezzo-soprano voice suited for chamber filled the hearts and minds of the listeners with a wondrous feeling. Olga chose to sing pieces and arias from Tchaikovsky’s romances, communicating the passion of love, the wonderment of mystery and soulfulness of mystic illusions to her listeners through her silky voice.
Her soulful rendition of Kaccini’s Gloria Ave Maria touched every heart in the audience. Olga’s rendition of Carmen was rich in drama and lyrical strains, bringing out very clearly the Spanish haughty defiance and gypsy rouguery which Georges Bizet had intended and endeavoured to capture so successfully, as Carmen’s libretto was drawn from a Spanish classic tale. Her singing explained why Carmen remains a favourite of listeners at all times and marks out Bizet’s exalted place among operatic composers.
Niccolai Vassiliev also chose to present pieces from Tchaikovsky’s romances, speaking of adventures and heroism. His repertoire included the beautiful Gopuk Ukrainian dances and Russian folk songs of the Nationalist era which gave the composer Petrovic Mussorgsky a big name in the world of music.
The duo’s performance was punctuated by Sergey who proved to be singularly precise and creative, for the piano provided was by no means in good health. Coaxing the instrument to play in time was indeed an admirable feat. It is a pity that Karachi could not offer the use of a better piano.
The musicians, after enthralling the listeners here, left for Islamabad the next morning. One can only hope that the visit of such accomplished musicians would occur regularly in the future.