A packed Luca restaurant played host on 1 September to Music on the Menu, one of the periodic dinner concerts held in support of the Cayman Arts Festival.
Pianist Glen Inanga, cofounder and artistic director of the Cayman Arts Festival, said it was the first time a Music on the Menu concert included an overseas performer – violist Eliesha Nelson. The evening featured Russian Viola Sonatas.
A member of the Cleveland Orchestra, Nelson has an interest in playing and recording music that has been “neglected or lost, for whatever reason”. For Music on the Menu, she played four movements of Varvara Gaigerova’s Suite of Viola and Piano Op. 8. The music of Gaigerova, who died in Moscow at age 40 during World War II, had been largely lost until Nelson and Inanga recorded it earlier this year.
The pair then played three movements of Paul Juon’s Sonata for Viola and Piano in D major Op.15. As an encore they played a lively short piece by Russian composer Alexander Winkler called The Spinning Top.
Inanga said he was thrilled to collaborate with Nelson.
“It’s been one of the highlights of my career to discover works that haven’t been recorded before that I think are masterpieces,” he said, noting that there had been a revival of interest in Gaigerova’s work since the recording of Russian Viola Sonatas was released.
Nelson, who was born in Alaska and now lives in Cleveland, said this was her first trip to the Cayman Islands and that she was very impressed by the natural beauty in Cayman and particularly by the people.
“It’s fantastic,” she said. “I’d love to come back.”
More than 100 people attended the event, which also featured a three-course dinner and wine after the performance.
Two of those in attendance won free tickets through Cayman Free Press’ Music on the Menu Contest. Although the winner, Leslie Ford, couldn’t attend, her sister Kristen and visiting friend Jessica Ortiz did. While Kristen said she didn’t really know too much about classical music, Ortiz said she is a big fan and collector.
Nevertheless, Kristen said she had very much been looking forward to the event.
“I’m excited to be here,” she said. “We’re big wine aficionados and we love Luca.”
Later in the evening, Inanga said the 2012 Cayman Arts Festival would take place 9 through 18 February and feature five different performances.
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