We are pleased to present a new compact disk, Black Snow, featuring music of Russian composers performed by outstanding musicians Michael Zaretsky (viola) and Xak Bjerken (piano). This CD includes sonatas for viola and piano by Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857), Dmitri Shostakovich (1906- 1975), and Jakov Jakoulov (b.1958), and "Mikhail Glinka. Valse-Fantaisie. Stylistic reminiscences", a piece for viola and piano, also by Jakov Jakoulov.

The music featured on Black Snow is chosen to create an integral image of the path of Russian viola music over the last two centuries. Far from being comprehensive, this recording nevertheless follows the most important trends of viola repertoire in Russian music. While the sonatas for viola and piano by Glinka and Shostakovich are well established in modern viola literature, a recently written sonata for viola and piano by Jakov Jakoulov, a Bostonian of Russian descent, naturally follows the great traditions of its predecessors. The last piece on Black Snow, written by Jakoulov expressly for this project, concludes the CD in a witty, yet relative manner to the earlier pieces.

The name of the CD comes from the famous Theatrical Novel by Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov. A history of the title, composers and musician is written by noted Russian music specialist, Mr. Harlow Robinson, and can be found in the CD liner notes.

CD Black Snow. Music of Russian composers for viola and piano. Michael Zaretsky, viola, Xak Bjerken, piano, can be purchased directly from ARTONA: ARTONA P. O. Box 1376, Amherst, MA 01004 (e-mail ARTONA) or through the "Shar" catalog.
In Boston it can be found in the following stores: Borders Books and Records, Tower Records, Boston Symphony Music Store.