About
The Lilacs
With their craft and heart, Lilacs pianists open to us their conception of the music they bring us. This brings us along in our own musical journeys — of getting in touch with emotions, and of seeking our happiness.
At the same time, we as the audience share this experience in an intimate setting, both during the recital and afterwards. That is what Lilacs is for.
Why the name Lilacs? The inspiration comes from my most beloved pianist and composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff, who wrote a song called Lilacs based on a short poem by Ekaterina Beketova, about one's search for true happiness.
Lilacs
Поутру, на заре,
In the morning, at daybreak,
По росистой траве,
over the dewy grass,
Я пойду свежим утром дышать;
I will go to breathe in the crisp dawn;
И в душистую тень,
and in the fragrant shades,
Где теснится сирень,
where the lilacs crowd,
Я пойду свое счастье искать…
I will go to seek my happiness…
В жизни счастье одно
In life, only one happiness
Мне найти суждено,
was fated for me to discover,
И то счастье в сирени живёт;
and that happiness lives in the lilacs;
На зелёных ветвях,
on the green boughs,
На душистых кистях
on the fragrant bunches,
Моё бедное счастье цветёт…
my poor happiness blossoms…
Ekaterina Beketova, set by Sergei Rachmaninoff as “Lilacs,” Op. 21 No. 5
Thank you to everyone who has generously supported our artists, and helped make The Lilacs Recital Series a reality. To reach me, please feel free to email jennifer@thelilacs.org.
— Jennifer