Now for something completely different-
I usually write about singers and singing on these pages, but tonight, just back from a magnificent violin concert by a young man who is destined to have a great career, I want to write about him.
Yevgeny Kutik.
I first heard Yevgeny play about seven years ago when he auditioned for, and won, the first Ferris-Burtis Foundation Scholarship. A very accomplished young woman had played for us first; she was also a violinist. Then Yevgeny played and removed all doubt that here was someone very special. At 17 he played with the emotion and musicianship of a much older performer. He blew us away!
Over the past seven years the Ferris-Burtis Foundation has tried to help Yevgeny in his education and now, in his career. We made a gift of tonight's concert to Smith College, where for the past two years I have been Adjunct Professor of Voice. A packed house roared their approval after each selection. Beethoven, Franck, Silver, Schnittke, Williams, Saint-Saens. Each delivered with passion and a blinding technique. To me he is a young Heifetz! And I had the pleasure of hearing that virtuoso several times in my youth. Yevgeny has the same silken tone which can turn to steel when appropriate. Infallible fingers and an unerring sense of style and musicality.
His pianist Timothy Bozarth equaled him in depth of emotion and flawless technique every step of the way.
When John Ferris and I established the Ferris-Burtis Foundation at the Berkshire-Taconic Foundation we had no idea that we would turn up a genius on the very first outing. But we did. And I was there tonight to cheer him on. The Foundation will hope to support him in the future, in what is bound to be a brilliant career, with enormous pride.
Bravo Maestro!!
Tax deductable contributions may be made to the Ferris-Burtis Foundation, Berkshire-Taconic Foundation, 800 North Main Street, Sheffield, MA 01257-0400. This Foundation plans to continue our support of this brilliant young artist as he enters a major career. http://www.berkshiretaconic.org/
http://www.yevgenykutik.com/
About Me
- Herbert Burtis
- Sandisfield, MA, United States
- I have given my blog the name of my first ancestor, Pietro Cesare Alberti, who came to these shores in 1635. He was the first Italian-American. I have had an international career as a pianist, organist, and harpsichordist. As a vocal teacher I have taught at Harvard University and Smith College as well as having a studio in New York City. I now have a vocal studio in Chicago.I have performed throughout the United States and in Denmark, Germany, Austria, France. Barbados, St. Vincent, Trinidad,Tobago, and Bermuda. I made my Carnegie Hall debut in 1967 and have appeared numerous times in Carnegie Recital Hall, Weill Hall, and Steinway Hall. As Director of the Ferris Burtis Music Foundation, my mission is to help young classical musicians in their education and careers. For twenty years I was the voice teacher for Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Seven of my students have sung at the Met, I may be reached at roodhill@verizon.net. www.hburtis.com http://ferrisburtisfoundation.blogspot.com http://albertitalks.blogspot.com