Kashtany Duo with Ivanna Mayorenko

The Kashtany Duo Experience the vibrancy, colour and richness of European folk and gypsy culture when the Kashtany Duo, with folk dancer Ivanna Mayorenko, performs at the Don Russell Performing Arts Centre on Friday 22 February at 8pm. The duo’s Myroslav Gutej (accordion) and Paul Wright (violin) explore the folk and gypsy music traditions of the Ukraine, Hungary, Russia, Israel and beyond. Ukrainian-born Mayorenko’s exotic dance routines and sumptuous traditional costumes augment the energetic rhythms of the diverse multi-ethnic music programme. Gutej and Wright have long shared a passion for classical and European folk music, which inspired the formation of the Kashtany Duo in 1989. Wright’s musical accomplishments began early when, at 11, he won an international scholarship to violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin’s school. At 17, he studied violin at the world-renowned Juilliard School of Music in New York and during this time, played a sold-out recital with Menuhin and his pianist sister Hepzibah at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. Fellow violin student and friend, internationally acclaimed prodigy Nigel Kennedy, also performed that day. Decades later, they still perform together and Wright has since performed with many major orchestras and ensembles, including the Australian String Quartet, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Australian Brandenberg Orchestra. Gutej has an impressive reputation as a pianist and specialist in world music. This distinguished composer and musician has had a passion for researching and arranging eastern European folk music since his days at the UWA Music School. He has since embarked on more than a decade of music study of several European cultures. Among his other musical accomplishments is a CD of his piano sonata compositions, which received international acclaim in 2002. Admission is $24.70, $20.90 concession, and $18.20 for high school students and groups of 10 or more. For bookings and information, call T: 9493 4577 or visit the City’s website www.gosnells.wa.gov.au.