February 07, 2006 -

Ottawa, Canada -- The multiple award-winning Russian-Canadian pianist Sergei Saratovsky will perform on the 2006 Aber Diamond Debut Series presented by the National Arts Centre and CBC Radio Two on Friday, February 10 at noon in the Foyer of the NAC.  The hour-long recital featuring music by his compatriots Rachmaninov and Stravinsky as well as Canadian Srul Irving Glick is hosted by Eric Friesen and will be broadcast live-to-air on his Radio Two programme Studio Sparks. (Aber Diamond is pronounced “Abber” Diamond).

Admission to the recital is $3.00 with all proceeds going to the NAC Orchestra Bursary Trust Fund. Additional donations to the Fund are greatly appreciated.

Sergei Saratovsky will perform Rachmaninov’s Variations on a Theme by Corelli , Glick’s Ballade for Solo Piano “Angel’s Kiss” and Stravinsky’s Three Movements from the ballet Petrouchka.

Award-winning pianist Sergei Saratovsky has won numerous competitions, including first place finishes at the Porto International Competition (Portugal, 1999), the North-West Regional Piano Competition (Russia, 1999), and the National Junior Competition (Russia, 1994). More recently Mr. Saratovsky received third prize at the International Russian Music Piano Competition (California, USA, 2003) where he was also awarded the Special Public Prize.  In the spring of 2004, he won second prize in the prestigious Eckhardt-Gramatté National Competition (Manitoba, Canada). He has performed with the Portugal National Orchestra, the Portugal Chamber Orchestra, and regular solo engagements with the State Symphony Orchestra of Karelia in his native Russia.  He has toured extensively, performing for audiences in France, Italy, Portugal, Canada, United States and Russia. In 2002, he was honoured by Russian President Vladimir Putin with an award recognizing his extensive achievements in music.

Born into a musical family in 1981 in Russia. Saratovsky began his piano studies at the age of six. In 2002 Mr. Saratovsky became a resident of Canada. He is currently completing a Masters Degree in Piano Performance and Literature under internationally known pianist and professor Alexander Tselyakov at Brandon University in Manitoba.

The Aber Diamond Debut Series showcases talented young musicians from Canada and around the world. The recitals take place in the Foyer of the NAC, and each will be broadcast live-to-air across Canada on Eric Friesen’s afternoon programme Studio Sparks on CBC Radio Two. Radio listeners can tune in from noon to 15:00 to hear the recital at 13:00.

- 30 -

For more information please contact:
Jane Morris, Communications Officer,
National Arts Centre Orchestra
(613) 947-7000, ext. 335
jmorris@nac-cna.ca

Jill LaForty, CBC Radio National Music Producer
(613) 288-6461
jill_laforty@nac-cna.ca