Sparkling Gold

Arensky’s Piano Trios represent a fine example of the Russian romantic piano trio, a form ‘invented’ by Tchaikovsky, Arensky’s close friend and influence. Piano Trio No 1 is the more popular of the two, dedicated to the cellist Karl Davidoff. Davidoff is regarded as the founder of the Russian school of cello-playing, and Arensky’s dedication accounts for the fact that the cello plays such a prominent role, having most of the principal themes and often seeming to eclipse the violin in importance. Piano Trio No 2 is one composer’s last works, and marks a considerable advance in Arensky’s compositional techniques.

Peter the Great was staged to celebrate the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg.
In order to understand the needs and sorrows of his people the young and dashing Tsar Peter decides to live and work incognito among the working classes. He falls in love with Catherine, a commoner's daughter and, still preserving his real identity, wants to marry her. (Operacritic.com)

France's outstanding reputation for fine wines—whether red, white, or sparkling—doesn't come out of thin air. Rather, it stems from hundreds of years of tradition that have created the gold standard by which all other wines around the world are measured.