Last season we paired cellist Natalia Gutman with an equally legendary peer and kindred spirit, pianist Elisso Wirssaladze. But on the recital stage, Gutman is just as happy to perform with her young, talented compatriot Viacheslav Poprugin. For the petite history: when we invited Poprugin to the former Yellow Hall, he had the dubious honor of being the only musician we ever worked with to be beaten up at his hotel in the otherwise peaceful and hospitable Ghent. Yet it took us little effort to convince him to honor us with another visit. The program includes a selection from less well-known repertoire, ending with Schnittke's first sonata for cello and piano, dedicated to, and today also performed by, Natalia Gutman.
