Seattle Symphony fans get double dose of Russians

Music lovers will get two distinguished artists for the price of one next week, when the Seattle Symphony presents a double shot of Russian soul: violinist Vadim Repin and pianist Nikolai Lugansky in a Wednesday duo recital at Benaroya Hall.

The rest of this month and next will bring lots more Russian talent to Seattle, with concerts by the Russian National Orchestra (with Mikhail Pletnev), Mstislav Rostropovich and a "Shostakovich Uncovered" festival that hits a wide variety of musical bases.

The Repin/Lugansky event, which starts at 7:30 p.m. (206-215-4747), features an enticing program: Bartók's Rhapsodie No. 1, Schubert's Fantasia No. 1 in C Major, Arvo Pärt's "Fratres," and the Franck Violin Sonata. The Bartók and Franck works, in particular, should bring out the fiery musical personality for which both players are known.

Siberian-born Repin (who is 35 this year) achieved official wunderkind status at 11, when he won the gold medal in all age categories at the Wieniawski Competition, and made his recital debuts in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Not long thereafter, he became the youngest-ever winner of Belgium's prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition.

Lugansky took top honors in the 1994 Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow, among several other top honors. A year younger than Repin, he was born in Moscow. Lugansky's biography is hard to believe. Take this mind-boggling incident: Before he could even read music, he sat down at a neighbor's piano and played a Beethoven sonata from memory (he had learned the music by ear). Later, at the age of 7, he began studies at the Moscow Central School of Music.

Together, these Russians should provide plenty of musical firepower. But it is unlikely to be just an evening of splash and dash: Both players also are known for their thoughtful interpretations and their musical probity.

When is a competition not really a competition? There are a few local examples, including the annual Seattle Young Artist Music Festival, which begins Tuesday at the School of Music at the University of Washington and continues through March 26. This year some 150 teachers have submitted 735 entries to the festival, which provides a master-class situation for students in which they hear and experience a positive critique in small sections, usually three or four per group. The music students (grades 5-12) will play complete programs of compositions from several historical periods. They will get a detailed analysis of their playing from a staff of judges.

The only competitive aspect of the festival is the optional concerto competition; the finals on March 26 will take place in the UW's Brechemin Auditorium from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All the sessions, including those finals, are open to the public.

Up to six winners of the March 26 concerto finals will be heard in concert with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Kane Hall's Roethke Auditorium on the UW campus. For details, check out the Web site, www.syamf.org.

Melinda Bargreen: mbargreen@seattletimes.com