Two talented Russian brothers who worked at Russia’s historic Bolshoi Theatre will perform at the Skipworth Performing Arts Center Sunday.
The event will be held at 3 p.m.
Stas and Sergei Izmailov now reside in Jackson. They claimed political asylum in the United States in October after receiving help from a Mississippi minister of music, according to a report by the Jackson-based TV station, WAPT.
“A student of war might know that there is a certain historical relationship between Thaddeus Kosciusko and Russia dating back to 1796,” said Dr. Tim Alford with the Skipworth Performing Arts Center. “The Izmailovs’ courageous journey to freedom is another example of history repeating itself. These world class musicians will reach into your heart and soul.”
The brothers will perform violin Sonata A major by César Franck; Christian songs “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace” interpretated for violin and piano by their father, Sergei Izmailov; Irish song “Danny Boy” arranged Manuel de Falla; and two works of Jewish music arranged by their friend, Evgeny Zhelinsky, who is a modern composer in St. Petersburg, Russia. They have an encore prepared if needed.
The brothers told The Star-Herald Tuesday, “We want to show the audience music is an international language, regardless of where it came from. It is understandable to everyone, it unites everyone. We will perform the French music of the great composer, Irish music interpreted by the famous Spanish composer, American (Christian songs) and Jewish, arranged by Russian composers. We want to spend a great hour with the audience speaking the same language — the language of music.”
The brothers said they are “happy to share the talents that God has given us and looking forward to performing in Kosciusko in a beautiful modernized hall.”
At the Bolshoi Theatre, Stas was a concertmaster and Sergei was a concert pianist. For years they performed and traveled until a year ago after Russia invaded Ukraine.
WAPT reported in March that Tim Walker, minister of music at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson, had met Stas and Sergei in Russia before the pandemic separately in St. Petersburg and Moldova, where Walker was a guest conductor during a music festival.
They became friends, and when the brothers began to fear for their lives, Walker and his wife decided to help.
They assisted the brothers in flying to Mexico, and from there, claim political asylum at the U.S. border.
The performance is Sunday afternoon only. Tickets are $20 each in advance or $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online (https://www.kfeems.org/concert-tickets) or on the day of the event at the center.
