RUSSIAN RAPTURE: RACHMANINOFF AND TCHAIKOVSKY Continues Jeffrey Siegel's Keyboard Conversations Series Tonight

With the ardor of Anna Karenina in the air - and movie theaters - nothing celebrates romance more than the music of Russian composers, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. Russian Rapture: Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, the second concert in Jeffrey Siegel's KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS series presented in Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center tonight, February 4 at 7:30pm by Friends of Keyboard Conversations, will romance the audience with a pre-Valentine's Day program featuring "some of the most melodic, dramatic, enthralling and passionate music in the piano repertoire," says Siegel. "Bring a significant other!"

"People who love romantic music should not miss this concert highlighting two of the most beloved and popular composers of all time, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, " says Siegel. "There will be familiar compositions, as well as a couple of great works off the beaten track that will be magnificent musical discoveries for most listeners. The program will include the giddy Humoreskes of both composers, the hauntingly sad Lullaby of Tchaikovsky, excerpts from the Seasons (how does a composer get "inspiration" and how does he write inspired music without it?) the ever changing strong moods of Dumka, and Variations on an original Melody - one of Tchaikovsky's most beautiful melodies upon which he spins his genius.

From Rachmaninoff, we will have the celebrated C-sharp Minor Prelude, a rare example of a piece of music that a young composer writes that brings him immediate - and worldwide - fame, as well as a deeply affecting series of short pieces, one written the night his wife gave birth to his first daughter, another inspired by a storm, and a third work that was the composer's personal favorite."

The February 4th concert in Philadelphia will also debut the release of Mr. Siegel's latest CD "The Romantic Music of Chopin," featuring many of the composer's most beloved, heartfelt works, including the famous, immediately recognizable A-flat Polonaise ("Heroic"), the haunting, nostalgic C-Sharp Minor Waltz, and the composer's last composition, a deeply expressive Mazurka. The CD, which will be available nationwide, was commercially recorded at the Kimmel Center's beautiful Perelman Theater. A post-concert CD signing will follow the performance.

Jeffrey Siegel's triumphant return to the Kimmel Center stage in October was made possible by generous donations from his passionate fans and the help of Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts President and CEO Anne Ewers. Mr. Siegel has a history of romancing the audience with brilliant gifts of captivating insight, enticing with wit and charm, and enthralling with dynamic performances of piano masterpieces.