EastWest Artistry NYC presented Salon d’Automne at OPERA America, bringing classical music, visual art, and community together in an intimate salon setting. Featuring violin, voice, classical guitar, and piano, the program moved from lyrical Romantic works and opera to an energetic closing performance.
Violinist Sendi Vartanovi, accompanied by pianist Astrik Sakanyan, opened the concert with Amy Beach’s Romance, followed by Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s Georgian folk dance Sachidao. The contrasting selections established the evening’s musical range, moving from expressive lyricism to lively, folk-inspired rhythms.
Soprano Lena Wu, founder and artistic director of EastWest Artistry NYC, later joined soprano Lingli Zhou for Mozart’s “Sull’aria… che soave zeffiretto” from Le nozze di Figaro. Their voices unfolded in graceful dialogue before blending through Mozart’s flowing melodic lines. The duet brought elegance and operatic intimacy to the program, becoming one of the evening’s memorable collaborative moments.
Visual art also played a meaningful role in shaping the salon’s atmosphere. Artwork by Yiran Ling, a student at New York University, was displayed onstage throughout the evening. Its presence created a visual focal point and reinforced the event’s multidisciplinary character, allowing music and visual expression to share the same space.
The performance reflected the salon’s broader artistic spirit. Rather than presenting each artist in isolation, the program encouraged creative exchange, allowing audiences to encounter different instruments, artistic disciplines, and performance styles within one thoughtfully curated evening.
Classical guitarist Richard Johansson introduced a contrasting sound world with Johann Kaspar Mertz’s An Malvina and Liebeslied. His performance formed a quieter and more reflective section of the program, highlighting the classical guitar’s warmth and expressive possibilities before the concert moved toward its final act.
Pianist Xiaolie “Leo” Liu concluded the evening with Georges Bizet’s “Habanera” from the Carmen Suite, arranged by Karen Kornienko, followed by Ernesto Lecuona’s “Malagueña” from Suite Andalucía. The two selections brought theatrical color, rhythmic vitality, and a fresh surge of energy to the room.
“Malagueña” proved particularly effective as the final work. Its driving rhythms, dramatic gestures, and brilliant keyboard writing allowed Liu to build momentum toward a commanding conclusion. His confident performance captured the music’s bold character while giving the concert a strong sense of completion.
As Liu played the final notes, the audience responded immediately with audible expressions of excitement and enthusiastic applause. The reaction demonstrated how strongly the performance had connected with the room. Audience members appeared energized by the finale, making Liu’s closing appearance one of the clear highlights of the evening.
The enthusiastic response also demonstrated the distinctive value of the intimate salon format. The close setting created a direct exchange between performer and audience, allowing the excitement following Liu’s performance to become part of the evening’s shared celebration.
Presented alongside Ling’s artwork and a welcoming reception, Salon d’Automne extended beyond the conventions of a traditional recital. From Wu and Zhou’s graceful Mozart duet to Liu’s exciting piano finale, the evening balanced intimacy with theatricality while reflecting EastWest Artistry NYC’s mission of connecting people through music, art, collaboration, and community.
