Concert at the Gallery Tsereteli
 
It was my great pleasure to sing with Mlada, and her sister
Olessa on Harp, and Kostantin K. Kostyrev (pianist of the
Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow) in concert at the Contemporary
Art Museum Tsereteli.  The Tsereteli Contemporary Art Gallery
is located in the center of Moscow. While we were busy preparing
for the concert, I did not have time to read about the talented
Georgian Artist, Zurab Tsereteli, neither did I know that the
attendees of the concert included members of UNESCO,
diplomats from the United States, France, Germany, a
representative for the European Union, a delegate from
China and many others. But, we sang a great concert
and all in attendance enjoyed it.

Mlada, Olessa Hudoley (Mlada’s Younger sister), Kostantin
Kostyrev (it was also Kostia’s birthday), and I received
resounding applause for the concert.  It was a wonderful
success (Please view the picture gallery for photos from
the Tsereteli Gallery, and photos of Tsereteli with Mlada).
Mlada started the program with Leonora’s aria from Il Trovatore,
we followed with “Un di felice” from La Traviata.  Highlights
include Gounod’s “Ave Maria” with Mlada and Olessa, Lisa’s
aria from Pique Dam ( Mlada will sing her first Lisa in La Scala
this March) and my version of the famous aria “Una furtiva lagrima.”

The program covered French, German, Russian, and Italian languages. 
It was particularly challenging, because of the International audience. 
Still, after the concert Mlada and I both received many compliments
on our Italian and German diction.  We also received invitations to sing
future concerts at the English and Dutch Consulates in Moscow.
 
The large hall at Tsereteli was very accommodating for our voices. 
The gallery has warm church acoustic, which gave a beautiful
shimmer to the music.  The ambiance of the hall is astounding.
Tsereteli composed all of the artwork in the hall.  On the walls
hang large bronze reliefs depicting the important events from the
bible.  In center is a large bronze apple, symbolizing the temptation
of Adam and Eve.  On one side of the apple is an entrance. 
When I  walked inside I was surprised to see a plethora of
erotic sexual poses.  Apparently, here Tsereteli depicts all
possible sexual positions between man and woman.  His
concept on the inside of the apple, Adam and Eve’s temptation,
is very interesting.  My two favorite pieces in the gallery are the
larger than life bronze statue of Peter of Great and the statue
of the current Mayor of Moscow sweeping the streets of Moscow. 
Indeed the streets of Moscow have recently become very clean.
 
After the concert Mlada, Olessa, Anastasia (our niece only 5 years old),
and I were invited to eat with the diplomats and Mr. Tsereteli.  It was
my pleasure to meet Mr. Manuel Curto, ambassador of Portugal and
his wife, Mr. Marc Franco, ambassador for the European Union, Mr.
Gianfranco Bonetti, ambassador to Italy, Dr. Alexander Yakovenko
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Mr.
and Mrs. Alexander Vershbow, from the Embassy of the United
States of America.  Mr. Vershbow congratulated me on my performance
and said that I did honor to America.  It was a truly wonderful compliment. 
Afterwards Mrs. Vershbow warmly greeted Mlada and welcomed her
to our American Family.

After we sat and ate with Mr. Zurab Tsereteli.  He kindly complimented
Mlada on her singing.  Actually, after Mlada sang the ballad from
Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera Mlada, Mr. Tsereteli presented Mlada
with one dozen large beautiful white roses.  Mr. Tseretlei is a true
connoisseur of classical music and of course of all Classical arts.

Mr. Tsereteli is currently, the President of the Russian Academy
of Art, People’s Artist of Russia and Georgia; President of the
Moscow International Foundation for Support to UNESCO;
UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.  His is a professor in Russia,
the United States (Brockport University of Fine Arts) and in
Georgia (Tbilisi Academy of Arts).  In the United States, his
large sculptural composition “Good defeats Evil” is on permanent
exhibit on the front grounds of the United Nations.  The Monument
symbolizes the end of the cold war. Also, Tsereteli’s sculpture,
created in honor of the Special Olympic Games for the physically
challenged children, is displayed in Brockport, New York.  In London,
the artist’s monument “To Break the Wall of Distrust” was constructed
in 1989.  In Spain, his monumental composition “Birth of the New Man”
dedicated to Christopher Columbus and his historical sail to the shores
of America was erected in 1995. Mr. Zurab Tsereteli is certainly an
artistic genius and it was our great pleasure to sing a concert
in his beautiful museum.
 
Mlada and I would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays and a safe
New Year’s Celebration.  We will be in Wisconsin and Los Angeles
for the Holidays, celebrating with our American Family. In early January,
we will celebrate the Russian Orthodox Christmas with our family in
Moscow.  Also, we are so happy to announce that Mlada is pregnant
with our first child.  God willing, she is due in mid-July.  We are so happy. 
However, Mlada’s career never stops.  In September 2005 she will be in
Seoul, Korea with Maestro Valery Gergiev and Wagner’s “Die Walkure.”  Mlada
will get only a short break this summer.  The Artists’ Life is always challenging. 

Best Wishes from,
Mlada and Peter