ABOUT CAPRICCIO'S BENEFIT SOIRÉES
Benefit Soirées are important fund raisers for Capriccio, a registered 501c3 non-profit. They make it possible for Capriccio to continue its mission of presenting world-class harpsichordists in intimate concerts. A donation of $220 secures one seat for this very special evening, with $150 of that amount being tax deductible. The Benefit Soirée offers attendees an exceptional experience - a very intimate musical experience with seating available for 14 attendees; a specialized concert program performed by exceptional international performers; and a complimentary multi-course sumptuous dinner served with outstanding wines donated by the International Wine Review.
THE MUSICAL PROGRAM
A Program of works written for solo harpsichord and works transcribed for one harpsichord four hands
EAST WIND: A CONCERT FOR FOUR HANDS
THE A&A CEMBALO DUO
Anastasia Antonova & Anna Kiskachi
~ OUVERTURE DE SALON ~
W.A. Mozart (1756 – 1791)
Sonata in D Major for harpsichord for four hands
~ CHILDREN’s CORNER ~
C. Debussy (1862 – 1918)
Golliwogg’s Cakewalk from the ‘Children’s Corner’
G. Fauré (1845 – 1924)
The Dolly Suite Transcription for harpsichord four hands
A. Liadov (1855 – 1914)
The Music Box for harpsichord
A. Dvoràk (1841 – 1904)
Slavonic Dance Transcription for harpsichord four hand
~ MYTHS AND LEGENDS ~
J.B-A. Forqueray (1672 – 1745)
Jupiter for harpsichord
J.P. Rameau (1683 – 1764)
Les Cyclopes for harpsichord
J-B. Lully (1632 – 1687) / J-H. D’Anglebert (1629 – 1691)
Armide Transcription for harpsichord four hands
~ ETERNAL PARADISE ~
J.S. Bach (1685 – 1750)
Prelude in C Major from Well-Tempered Clavier Book I for harpsichord
J.S. Bach
Lute prelude C minor for harpsichord
J.S. Bach
Passacaglia C minor Transcription for harpsichord four hands

ANASTASIA ANTONOVA
Anastasia Antonova, a Russian harpsichordist and pianist, is the only musician who has won prizes at each of the three largest and most prestigious harpsichord concerts: 1st prize at the international Prague Spring Competition (69th edition, 2017, Czech Republic); 3rd prize at the International J.S. Bach Competition (21st edition, Leipzig, Germany); and 3rd prize at the International Musica Antiqua Competition (Brugge, Belgium, 2018). Additional prizes won by Anastasia include:
* Winner (2nd prize, 1st was not awarded) at the international Yamanashi Competition (Japan, 2016)
* Winner of the City of Prague Prize for the most successful laureate at the Prague Spring International Music Competition (2017, Czech Republic)
* Laureate (Golden Award) at the international harpsichord Svirel competition (A&A Cembalo Duo, ensemble nomination, Slovenia, 2016)
* Winner (3rd prize) at the international Volkonsky harpsichord competition (Moscow, Russia, 2013)
* Winner of a special audience award at the Austrian Baroque Academy (Gmunden, Austria, 2011)
* Laureate (3rd prize) of the Open All-Russian "Merzlyakovka invites friends" piano competition (Moscow, 2008)
* Laureate and winner of a special prize at the international "IBLA Grand Prize" competition (Raguza, Italy, 2007)
Since 2018 Anastasia Antonova has been teaching harpsichord, basso-continuo, and chamber ensemble performance in Moscow State P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory. And, since 2012 she has been an Artist of Accademia Villa Bossi in Italy.
Born in Moscow, Anastasia excelled at Classical and Baroque music from her early school years. Her first recitals with orchestra were at age 12 when she performed keyboard concertos by J.S. Bach and W.A. Mozart. And, also while at school, she received the honor of playing at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory performing solo repertoire by Mozart and Beethoven.
Anastasia graduatded with honors from Moscow State P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory where she studied harpsichord (Prof. Olga Filippova), piano (Prof. Michail Dubov) and fortepiano (Prof. Alexey Lubimov). She continued her harpsichord studies at the post-graduate level at Moscow Conservatory (Prof. O. Filippova) and the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna (Prof. Wolfgang Gluxam). She also received important artistic guidance at international master classes with K. Haugsand, P. Hantai, S. Sempe, M. Mencoboni, C. Schornsheim, and others.
Anastasia performs extensively as a soloist and chamber music player in Austria, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, Japan, Slovenia and Russia. Her repertoire covers music of five centuries - from English virginalists to modern composers. As pianist and harpsichordist she has premiered a number of works by composers of the 20th and 21st centuries in Russia. Anastasia's recent appearances have been in venues such as the Wiener Konzerthaus; Prague's Rudolfinum; the Great Hall of Tivolivredenburg in Utrecht; the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory; South Czech Philharmonic; Moscow International House of Music; Moscow Philharmonic; Zaryadye Hall, and many others. In 2018 she made her debuts with Czech Philharmonic and Prague Spring International Music Festival.
In 2011 Anastasia, with her colleague Anna Kiskachi, founded A&A Cembalo Duo. A&A has already proven itself at numerous international music festivals, including Early Music Fabulous Fringe in Utrecht (Holland); Musica Antiqua in Brugge (Belgium); Resonanzen; Styriarte; Alter Musik Italia Mia; Brunnenthaler Konzertsommer (Austria); Early Music Yamanashi (Japan); Klang im Kloster; Neuburger Barockkonzerte (Germany); Accademia del Ricercare (Italy); Clavecin en France (France); Breaking Stereotypes (Russia), and others.
Besides solo, chamber music and cembalo duo concerts Anastasia performs as a soloist with orchestras such as Pratum Integrum; Collegium 1704; South Czech Philharmonic; Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinu Zlin Orchestra; State Symphony Capella of Russia, Moscow Chamber Gnessin Orchestra; and others.
Her harpsichord performances were broadcasted by Russian Culture TV and radio stations such as Radio Osterreich I (Austria); Cesky rozhlas, CRo Vltava (Czech Republic); Der Bayerische Rundfunk (Germany); Concertzender (Netherlands); Radio Russia; and Radio Orpheus (Russia).

ANNA KISKACHI
Harpsichord, piano, hammer-clavier, historical piano and continuo player.
Prize-winner at the Prague Spring Harpsichord Competition (Czech Republic), a leading music competition represented by the World Federation of Music Competitions.
Winner of the Bohuslav Martinu Foundation Prize for best performance of the Concerto for Harpsichord and Small Orchestra (composer: Bohuslav Martinu).
Winner of the Wanda Landowska Harpsichord Competition (Italy).
Senior Lecturer for harpsichord and accompaniment at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz (Austria).
"[.. Anna Kiskachi completely steals the show with her virtuosic performance ...moving from the small Italian to larger two-manual French harpsichord for the occasion. This really was a show-stopping performance, full of dramatic and well-timed pauses." Andrew Benson-Wilson, Early Music Review.
Anna Kiskachi recently celebrated her debuts at:
Konzerthaus Vienna
Great Hall of Brivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht
Moscow International House of Music
Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory
Concertgebouw Brugge
Moscow Philarmonic Hall
ZaryadyeHall
& many others...
Anna Kiskachi recently participated in prestigious festivals including:
Utrecht Early Music Fabulous Fringe Festival (Holland)
Musica Antiqua Brugge (Belgium)
Resonanzen - Festival (Austria)
Styriarte - die steirischen Festpiele (Austria)
Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik (Austria)
Yamanashi Early Music Festival (Japan)
New Virtuosi (Great Britain)
Bach Festival (Poland)
AMIA - amis de la musique sur instruments ancienc (France)
Clavecin en France (France)
Neuburger Barockkonzerte (Germany)
& many others...
With her numerous concerts as a soloist, as part of the A&A Cembalo Duo, and as a continuo player Anna is widely appreciated and lauded across Europe and internationally. She has performed in Russiea, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Finland, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, and Japan.
Anna has performed with highly regarded orchestras including the Orchestra of Salzburg Philharmonie (Austria); Les Orpheistes (Vienna); the Haydn Orchestra (Bolzano); Collegium 1704, Filharonie Bohuslava, Martinu Zlin, etc. Anna has also collaborated with many renowned musicians including Julia Lezhneva, Michi Gaigg, soloists of the Moscow Baroque ensemble Pratum Integrum, and with ensemble NEObarock (winner of the prestigious music award ECHO). Anna has also collaborated in programs with the Moscow Philarmonic, Salzburg Philarmonic and the Haydn Fondazione (Bolzano, Italy).
In 2011 Anna Kiskachi and Anastasia Antonova founded A&A Cembalo Duo. This is the only harpsichord duo in Russia and its unique and extravagant performances have been enthusiastically endorsed by audiences in cities across Europe and in Japan.
Since 2012 Anna have been an Invited Artist at the Accademia Villa Bossi in Italy.
In 2019 Anna was appointed a Senior Lecturer for harpsichord and accompaniment at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria.
THE A&A CEMBALO DUO
Anastasia Antonova & Anna Kiskachi
What the Reviewers say:
"When both harpsichordists took a seat at their instrument their four hands seemed to belong to only one body" Ausburger-allgemeine, Germany
Their's "...is a poetry of intoxicating virtuosity beyond expectations" Steirerkrone, Austria
"...you hardly believe that a harpsichord duo can give rise to such emotions..." Donaukurier, Germany
~~~~~~~~
The A&A CEMBALO DUO includes two exceptionally talented, virtuoso Russian harpsichordists ANASTASIA ANTONOVA and ANNA KISKACHI. They studied at the renowned P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Moscow and the University Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, as well as at the Universities of Performing Arts in Vienna and Munich. Currently Anastasia teaches harpsichord in Moscow at the P.I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory while Anna is a senior lecturer in harpsichord instruction and accompaniment at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, Austria.
Anastasia and Anna have both won numerous prestigious awards during their musical careers. Among the most notable are: first and third prizes overall at the prestigious Prague Spring Competition plus a special award for best performance of a harpsichord concerto. They are laureates of the J.S. Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany, and the Musica Antiqua Competition in Brugge, Belgium; won the Wanda Landowska Competition in Italy; received the Golden Award at the Svirel Competition; and won the international Yamanashi and Osaka Competitions in Japan.
The A&A Cembalo Duo has performed at premier festivals in Europe and Japan, including at the Early Music Fabulous Fringe Festival in Utrecht; the Musica Antiqua Festival in Brugge; Resonanzen Festival in Vienner Konzerthaus, Styriart in Graz, Alter Musik Italia Mia in Mauerbach, Brunnenthaler Konzertsommer (Austria), Klang im Kloster - Festival fur Alte Musik (Germany); Yamanashi Early Music Festival (Japan); Accademia del Ricercare (Italy); Breaking Stereotypes (Russia); plus many others. Anna Kiskachi and Anastasia Antonova are also guest artists at the Accademia Villa Bossi in Italy. Having performed in Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and Japan, the A&A Cembalo Duo has achieved widespread recognition and glowing reviews on the international stage.