Steinway Society – The Bay Area Home Concert Hall Series Presents Vyacheslav Gryaznov
December 18 through December 21

Continuing its well-established tradition of presenting some of the world’s most famous pianists, the Steinway Society of the Bay Area is enriching our cultural life by showcasing virtuoso pianist Vyacheslav Gryaznov, known for his creative, enthralling piano transcriptions in the newly-established Home Concert Hall virtual series.

Exclusive to Steinway Society, this series of new video recordings are not available anywhere else on the internet. Vyacheslav (called Slava by his friends) thrilled audience in his West Coast debut with the Steinway Society in 2016, receiving three encores. He has performed to great acclaim throughout the U.S., Russia, Japan, and Europe, including Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonie. Slava studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory for his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and earned the Yale School of Music’s Artist Diploma in 2018. In 2014, he signed with Schott Music, GmbH & Co., where his transcriptions rank among the publisher’s top ten best-selling piano editions. The concert’s program will feature: Transcriptions by Vyacheslav Gryaznov

· Monteverdi, Sì dolce è’l tormento, SV 332
· Falconieri, Chaconne in G Major
· Rameau, Les Boréades: Entrée from Act IV
· J.S. Bach, Organ fantasia in G Major, BWV 572
· Beethoven-Liszt, Beethoven Symphonies, S.464. Symphony No. 1 in C, Op. 21
· Mahler, Symphony No 5 in C-Sharp Minor – IV. Adagietto, for the left hand
· Debussy, Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun), L. 86
· Ravel, La Valse

A recorded pre-concert lecture by Bay Area classical music expert Dr. Gary Lemco will also be available for viewers to download. Steinway Society – The Bay Area is a nonprofit organization based in Silicon Valley. Now in its 26th season, this dedicated group of musicians, pianists, teachers, and arts lovers promotes excellence in piano performance and music education. Each season, Steinway Society presents a series of classical piano concerts featuring international award-winning pianists, as well as an active school music program.

Information
www.SteinwaySociety.com
(408) 300-5635

Photo courtesy of Steinway Society – The Bay Area

Google Plans Cross-Continent Concert for Beethoven’s 250th Birthday
Now through 2021

Were he still alive today, Ludwig van Beethoven would turn 250 years old on December 17th, 2020. You can celebrate the legendary composer’s birthday by opening up the Google Arts & Culture app on your phone and online. Join the fabulous celebrations of Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday as ten orchestras across six continents play “Ode to Joy” to raise money for struggling musicians. In addition, Google has partnered with 18 international cultural institutions including Beethoven-Haus Bonn, Carnegie Hall, Chineke! Orchestra, and Teatro alla Scala to properly celebrate the German composer’s 250th birthday.

This “Global Ode to Joy” concert series has already launched with an event at Carnegie Hall in New York, kicking off the year-long proceedings, but it will continue throughout the latter portion of 2020 and into 2021. More content is planned throughout 2021 to celebrate this momentous occasion on the Google Arts & Culture app. And you can celebrate Beethoven’s special birthday from the comfort of your home. Truly a priceless opportunity. You’ll find a variety of experiences dedicated to recounting his life and influence on music. One will tell you about the little-known story of George Bridgetower, a Black violin virtuoso to whom Beethoven originally dedicated his Violin Sonata No. 9 — the tale involves a drunken bar brawl between the two. Another program will detail Beethoven’s influence on modern music.

Information
Open up the Google Arts & Culture app on your phone or online.

Photo courtesy of Google Arts & Culture

Christmas Tree Lane in Palo Alto
December 12 through December 31, 5p.m. to 10p.m.

Each year the Christmas Tree Lane on the 1700-1800 blocks of Fulton Street in Palo Alto comes alive, providing a strip of lighted trees and decorated homes unrivaled on the Peninsula. This year will mark the 80th anniversary of this beloved neighborhood tradition. The row of these houses on Fulton Street off Embarcadero Road was the last street in Palo Alto in 1940 when four residents there gathered around a bridge table one day and discussed the upcoming holiday season. It was during that game at the home of Judge Edward E. Hardy that one of Palo Alto’s longest standing traditions was born. And you thought Palo Alto is primarily known for chips and technology? Surprise!

Please be considerate. It is strongly recommended that you stay in your car to enjoy the lane this year. Use your “parking lights” instead of full headlights and drive slowly down the street. When the lights came on that Christmas in 1940, “Christmas Tree Lane” became one of the most visited attraction in Palo Alto. Keep safe and make sure it continues.

Photo courtesy of Lina Broydo

San Jose Earthquakes Honor Most Dedicated Members of the Quake Family with “Devotion” Scarves
Scarf recipients to be honored virtually

The San Jose Earthquakes will honor 14 recipients with a “Devotion Scarf,” an honor bestowed upon only the most devoted Earthquakes fans, staff, alumni or other members of the Earthquakes family. The Quakes presented “Devotion Scarves” for the first time in 2015, and they are now awarded annually at the final home game of the regular season. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s recipients will have their scarves delivered to their homes and will be recognized through the club’s social media accounts.

The 14 recipients of the 2020 “Devotion Scarf” include longtime Earthquakes season ticket holders and club advocates Charlie Bedard and Karlina Ott; Dr. Richard Gayle and Dr. Daniel Ouyang, medical doctors from the Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation and the first team’s medical physicians; and Hal and Ted Ramey, the first father-son duo to win this recognition. Wish I could add my name as I am a huge soccer fan and I am totally devoted to the San Jose Earthquake Soccer Team. In addition, I love this scarf! Can you hear me Earthquakes?

Photo courtesy of SJ Earthquakes

Lina Broydo immigrated from Russia, then the Soviet Union, to Israel where she was educated and got married. After working at the University in Birmingham, England, she and her husband immigrated to the United States. She lives in Los Altos Hills, CA and writes about travel, art, style, entertainment, and sports. She hardly cooks or bakes, with no borsch or piroshky on her home cooking menu. Therefore, she makes reservations and enjoys dining out, mostly sushi.