Our Great Tchaikovsky at the Annenberg

by Valerie Summers

Brilliant and multi-talented Hershey Felder, a unique presence in the entertainment world,  has outdone himself with the  Los Angeles premiere of Our Great Tchaikovsky which recently opened at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. Written and performed by Felder, this one-man show presents a time-bending tale of music, politics, personal demons and one of the world’s most beloved composers.  Felder transforms himself into the famed Russian composer Pioty Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with the look, the speech and the accomplishments as a pianist and a story teller.

Known for brilliant symphonic works, piano concerti, overtures, operas, chamber music and ballets, this masterful musician, who fought a personal identity battle throughout his life, mysteriously died in Russia  at the age of 53. His life was a roller coaster of performance, accolades,  depression, confusion and love.

The extraordinary staging for the performance carried the audience through a multitude of backdrops from concert halls to the tranquil woods of Russia.  Playing through August 13.

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd.

Beverly Hills

www.TheWallis.org

310/746-4000