Conservatory of Music alumnus Darren Matias and Russian prodigy Yasa Poleteava combines classical and contemporary music in an intimate concert titled 鈥淐ontrast Duo鈥� held at the UST Museum on August 24, 2017.
Matias, who is described by the Florida Weekly as 鈥渁 pianist who performs with passion and virtuosity leaving the audience breathless,鈥� has performed with Poleteava in 鈥楥ontrast Duo鈥� in various countries such as the United States, Russia and Finland.
The UST concert opened with German composer Ludwig van Beethoven鈥檚 鈥淪onata No.1, Op. 12,鈥� rendered in different layers of allegro or fast tempo. The audience was then treated to an original arrangement of 鈥淪cent of a Woman鈥� composed by Thomas Newman.
The duo shifted to a smoother, more soulful rhythm with their rendition of American composer John Williams鈥� 鈥淪chindler鈥檚 List,鈥� the score for the Spielberg film about a German businessman who saved Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust. Matias and Poleteava capped the concert with 鈥淟ibertango鈥� by Astor Piazolla.
Matias has received grants and awards including scholarship grants. He earned his Master of Music degree and Performance Certificate at Lynn University Conservatory of Music, Florida, USA.
