The L’Ermitage Foundation was founded 50 years ago in 1983 by Severyn Ashkenazy to support worthy charities and present small-venue concerts. Its exquisite concert series takes place from June until November each year at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel.
Purchase a subscription to the foundation’s exclusive concert series here.
The concert I attended featured Cellist Ruslan Biryukov (of Encino, CA) and Harpsichordist Nathan Lewis (of Newport Beach, CA) performing three Italian Baroque virtuoso cello sonatas from the works of Vivaldi, Boccherini, and Locatelli.
Watch the artists perform in rehearsal in the quick video below.
About the musicians
Cellist RusLan Biryukov was born in Azerbaijian and now lives in Encino. He masterfully played a cello that was crafted by Pierre Gaggini (1976). It was provided by Robert Cauer, the Hollywood-based string instrument restorer for the Colburn School’s instrument collection and the Los Angeles Philharmonic string instrument collection.
Biryukov is a renowned cello graduate of the USC Thornton School of Music. He is the founder of the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra and the Los Angeles Cello Quartet and is artistic director of Positive Motions Concert Series in Los Angeles.
You can read more about his career here.
The evening was enhanced by Biryukov’s magnetic personality as he thoroughly charmed the audience who were sitting in the Grand Ballroom of the cozy Luxe Hotel. He is also a skillful teacher and made the evening even more enjoyable sharing his vast knowledge of Italian Baroque and personal stories.
Nathan Lewis played a famous 60-year-old Neupert Harpsichord owned by the Kasimoff-Blüthner Piano Co. in Los Angeles, which was making a rare appearance.
Lewis was born in Auckland, New Zealand and now lives in Newport Beach. By the age of seven, he was proficient in both piano and violin and later studied at the Colburn School of Music and UC Irvine. He is currently an educator.
Biryukov mentioned before the concert that none of the three Italian Baroque sonatas had ever been played with both cello and harpsicord together.
The Harpsicord
You may remember this particular harpsicord being featured in The Partridge Family television show back in the 1970s. It also provided some of the music for the films “Titanic”, “The Little Mermaid” and “Kung Fu, ” among many others.
Avita Duo for your consideration
I am writing to you to express Avita Duo’s interest in performing on your concert series. With their long and extensive performance history I believe that they would be enthusiastically received by your audience.
Avita Duo, a vibrant Mother / Daughter piano and violin duo, has been praised for their exceptional technical prowess, deeply resonant emotional expression, and unwavering cohesion in their performances. They have been performing together for over 15 years in venues across the United States and around the world, including cities such as Vienna, Budapest, Brasilia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok. Their recent engagements include captivating performances at esteemed locations such as Sala Cecilia Meireles in Rio de Janeiro, the Dame Myra Hess series in Chicago, the Festival of Connections in Natal, and several concert venues in Romania, Hungary, and the US. The 2025-26 season will feature performances at both Bargemusic and Music on Madison Avenue in New York City.
Possessing a vast and diverse repertoire, Avita Duo showcases their versatility by exploring musical compositions ranging from the Baroque era to contemporary works by living composers. Their repertoire encompasses both celebrated masterpieces and hidden gems, ensuring a captivating experience for audiences of all backgrounds and musical preferences. This mother-daughter partnership culminated in their first CD recording of Lera Auerbach’s “Twenty-Four Preludes for Violin and Piano”, alongside the world premiere of “Oskolki” in 2022. This groundbreaking CD, released on the Hänssler Classic label, has garnered enthusiastic reviews from prominent critics, who lauded it as “absorbing, dramatic, compelling, audacious, and riveting”.
Violinist Katya Moeller was called a “phenomenal instrumentalist” and praised for her “fresh, committed playing, always powerful and concentrated”, “dramatic and convincing performances”, and “exquisite interpretations” . She has been a prize winner in six international competitions and innumerable national competitions both as a soloist and as a chamber musician. She presently studies at the Juilliard School in New York City while continuing actively performing as a duo member and soloist. This past summer found her at the prestigious Verbier Festival Academy of Soloists and Ensembles program where she was awarded the prestigious Prix Rodolphe et Helen Tissières.
Renowned pianist Ksenia Nosikova has earned widespread acclaim in the world of classical music for her exceptional artistry and profound interpretations. Among her twelve critically acclaimed CD recordings are the complete three volumes of Années de Pèlerinage (Years of Pilgrimage) by Franz Liszt, called an “outstanding achievement” by Classics Today and “super disc” by London’s “International Piano” magazine. In 2021 her double CD set of Aus Meinem Tagebuch (From my Diary), Op. 82 by Max Reger was released by Centaur Records. Ksenia Nosikova is a Steinway Artist and Steinway Teachers Hall of Fame inductee.
With their unwavering commitment to broadening exposure to classical music, Avita Duo aims to impact audiences both globally and locally. In addition to their close collaboration with concert presenters to create a compelling concert programming and produce captivating public performances, the Duo prioritizes community engagement and outreach, frequently performing at public schools, community centers, and retirement homes, presenting educational workshops and teaching masterclasses.
Much more information, including videos, recordings, and complete biographies, can be found at http://www.avitaduo.com
Respectfully,
Tom Moeller
Hi Tom, I simply wrote a review of the concert. You will need to contact the L’Ermitage directly regarding Avita Duo. I’m sure she is wonderful.