Michimich.com - Michigan Philharmonic launches 77th season with "enchanting" concert in Garden City

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Opening night will feature long-delayed return of renowned pianist Anastasia Rizikov

PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Michimich -- The Michigan Philharmonic begins its exciting new 77^th season on Saturday, Sept. 24 with an "Enchanted Nights" concert in the new O'Leary Performing Arts Center in Garden City.

Led by Conductor and Music Director Nan Washburn, now in her 24th season, the Philharmonic's opening night begins at 7:30 p.m. and features the stylings of internationally renowned pianist Anastasia Rizikov, who first played with the Philharmonic when she was 12 years old. There is a brief pre-concert talk that begins at 6:45 p.m. as well.

The 23-year-old Canadian-Ukrainian, who was originally set to return with the Philharmonic three years ago, will take the stage this season for Sergei Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26" written in 1921.

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Rizikov has dazzled the international arena as a child prodigy since she was seven, when she walked onto the stage of the Kiev Philharmonic Orchestra in a pink fluffy dress and huge pigtails tied with pink bows, sat down to the piano barely reaching the pedals, and played with a precision and maturity that transcended her young age. Ever since, she has astounded audiences and juries alike, competing with musicians over twice her age and winning many international piano competitions while playing in over 40 orchestral performances internationally.

The opening night concert will also include the world premieres of Dianne Hartman's "My Child Suite for Orchestra" written in 2020. Hartman is a local composer who lives and has a psychotherapist practice in Livonia.

The Philharmonic's opening evening wraps up with the highly popular "Scheherazade," a piece by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov that musically tells the enchanting story of "One Thousand and One Nights."

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Rizikov will also be performing a special recital, "Harmony in the Hills," on Sunday, Sept. 25 in the sanctuary at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Rochester. A donation of $15 is being requested.

The Dr. Edwin J. O'Leary Performing Arts Center, which sits nearly 1,000 people, is located at 6500 Middlebelt Road, Garden City. It is the first time the Philharmonic has performed in the new facility.

For tickets, contact the Michigan Philharmonic at www.michiganphil.org or call (734) 451-2112. You can also contact the Philharmonic at infor@michiganphil.org.

All of the Philharmonic's concerts are subject to time and date changes as well as health restrictions mandated by the State of Michigan.