HERSHEY FELDER   OUR GREAT TCHAIKOVSKY by Carol Kaufman Segal

            I wish I could remember how many years ago it was that I, and other journalists, had the luck of meeting a young Hershey Felder who was in Los Angeles for his first appearance performing a piano concert at UCLA.   It was at an intimate luncheon held at the Canadian Consulate’s home in Hancock Park.  Felder and Kim Campbell (Canada’s Consulate to Los Angeles and wife of Hershey Felder) were warm hosts, serving a delicious lunch prepared by Hershey himself.  After lunch and a briefing about his concert, Hershey offered to perform on the piano for his guests which turned out to be the real high point of the day.  The young man, from those many years ago, has proven to be one of the world’s great artist and performers today. 

            The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis) in Beverly Hills is presenting Hershey Felder in his latest production, Our Great Tchaikovsky, which is proving to be one of his most impressive productions.  He is a one man phenomenon due to his accomplishments as an actor, pianist, singer, writer, director, producer and designer.  His previous shows, George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin, Beethoven, Maestro (Leonard Bernstein), Franz Liszt in Musik, and Lincoln, An American Story, have all been popular with audiences and critics alike.   

            Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), a composer during the late Romantic Period, was born in Russia and was, and undoubtedly, is still the most popular Russian composer.  His glut of music consists of symphonies, opera, ballet suites, concerti, cantatas, choral works, and more.  Despite his popularity, he suffered from depression throughout his life, perhaps due to his homosexuality which he kept private throughout his lifetime.   

            In this glorious production, Hershey Felder plays not only the great Piotr Ilyyich Tchaikovky, but the myriad of people that affected his life, while sometimes reverting to himself.  Throughout the play, Felder performs Tchaikovsky’s music in conjunction with the text.  His skill on the piano is flawless, and I marvel at his ability to perform intricate musical works while never letting up on the narrative. 

             The beautiful set design by Hershey Felder, lighting and projection design by Christopher Ash, and the sound design by Erik Carsrtensen,  all add up to enhance this presentation, superbly directed by Trevor Hay.

            Hershey Felder performs Our Great Tchaikovsky Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM, and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM, through August 13, at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills.  Tickets are available online at TheWallis.org/Felder, by phone at (310) 746-4000, or at the Box Office located in the theater.

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