home of
!CLASS ACT© PRODUCTIONS
...welcoming all serious enthusiasts of Fun & Entertainment
You are invited for a sneack preview of some of
OUR PAST EVENTS AND PRODUCTIONS
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| Welcome to "The Arts and Music Salon",
where performers and artists of different media meet and mingle, exchange ideas and inspiration with each other and with their close circle of admirers and supporters.
"The Arts and Music Salon"
bridges fun and serious, structured and improvised, traditional and politically incorrect. In the future we plan to feature master and amateur chefs, local and touring writers, poets, art historians, dancers, musicians, visual artists, comedians, progressive thinkers, philosophers and visionaries.
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Currently we are accepting submissions related to the subjects of War and Peace - the theme of one of our upcoming Salons.
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Arnold Kloian |
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On December 31 Giorgi Gallery of Berkeley magically transformed into the space, that hosted “The Arts and Music Salon”, welcoming performers, artists and the audience in the warm and inspiring for interaction atmosphere of New Year Eve’s celebration. Ms. Rozalina Gutman, local concert pianist and educator, founder of CHARISMA Foundation, thought about such happening for a long time. Back in Russia, where she was born and studied music in College and University, she was often on stage (as well as behind the stage as a script writer) during theatrical productions that were somewhat improvised, yet thought through, open to both community and insiders, filled with music and humor, widely known in Russian theater and music circles as “Kapusnik” (please, scroll down to read more about exciting tradition of “Kapusnik”, including the meaning of its name). Ms. Rozalina Gutman’s desire to use this model to create an interactive event in this unique format turned into a memorable success.
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Ms. Gera Hasse, the owner of 4th Street Studio, www.fourthstreetstudio.com/index.htm generously donated her "Dreamscape with Sea Shells" for the Silent Auction, that benefited Scholarship Fund for Arts and Music Education.
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As every major event of CHARISMA Foundation, this Arts and Music Salon depended on community effort and support. Also, several generous sponsors helped allowed the producers to manifest the ideas into reality. Zebrus Web Ventures provided consulting for the website production of the Salon. Several of generous local sponsors of the event (incl. Knutek Cosmetics >> http://www.knutek.com/user.asp?0) joined the audience, hearing a lot of praise and admiration for their support as well as having a great opportunity to show-case their products.
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This New Year's Salon show-cased a number of talented local performers of various genres. The evening started with airy and empathic piano improvisations by Arnold Kloian. Edward Zon masterfully accompanied several singers during this concert and delighted the audience with his solo piano performance of miniatures by Schubert and Chopin that were enchanting and filled with both elegance and sincerity.
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David Margolick supported "The Arts and Music Salon" from New York City. He donated a signed copy of his article for the October 2004 Issue of Vanity Fair, that contains investigative information, including interviews and other evidence related to the 2000 election as well as a warning for then upcoming 2004 election. He is a contributor to Vanity Fair and the former National Legal Affairs Editor for the New York Times. A four-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, he is the author of Beyond the Glory, Strange Fruit, Undue Influence and At the Bar.
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| The Dancer Ms. Miriam Perez magically transposing all of the audience into the fiery world of Middle Easter dance, and engaging everyone to join in and enjoy interaction with the master at the conclusion of her performance. This surprise and impromptu belly dancing lesson was received by everyone with lots of enthusiasm and excitement.
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Inviting vases with bright-colored strawberries entered the arena right at the time when the chocolate fondue pots started spreading enticing aroma of indulgence and happiness, being lit up by Elaine Schwimmer, one of many enthusiastic supporters of the Foundation’s endeavors.
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| At the end of the evening the hostess of the Salon Ms. Rozalina Gutman performed on the piano. Her masterful rendition of “Gardens in the Rain” by Debussy turned the pouring rain outside into a perfect soundscape. At the end of enthusiastic applause that followed playing, she thanked all the guests and the performers for their company, and she also asked if anyone had any particular favorite dish among many skillfully served delicacies. After numerous grateful remarks Ms. Gutman made a surprise confession that due to a sudden cancellation from catering, she decided to make an impromptu debut as a chef that very night .
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Michael Grove, the manager of the Giorgi Gallery sincerely shared with everybody that he could not expect such an exciting celebration and invited everyone to come back to the gallery that was planning to have many more exhibits of talented local artists.
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The excitement of the audience was steadily growing as everyone was surprised by never ending appearances of talented performers that shared this special evening with their admirers. Right before midnight multicolored glasses were filled champagne while Duet of talented singers Ms. And Mr. Gorton sang musical “Cheers!”
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One of the highest points of the event came at midnight, when guests and performers with the background from various countries of Europe, Middle East, Latin America, Asia congratulated everyone with the arrival of the New Year in their own languages, followed each time with repetition by the chorus of happy voices gathered in the circle that symbolized friendship and happiness for all.
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Tradition of "Kapusnik": Salon for Artists & Their Admirers. The century-long Russian tradition of "Kapusnik" (properly written Russian version: "Kapustnik") - a show created and performed for the insiders often as impromptu - had it's origins in the private theaters owned by Russian aristocracy.
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In previous times renowned actors and musicians were required to serve their masters in various circumstances in addition to their performance duties regardless of their artistic recognition. Often they also had to endure cruel punishment and little respect for their great and otherwise well-respected talents, treated as uneducated and unskilled servants and peasants. "Kapusnik" became an alternative source of inspiration and mutual support for many of them, as well as a special chance to have exclusive view at the mysterious act of creation for those few supporters who were invited to be their guests.
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We feature the finest local & visiting chefs |
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Often "Kapusnik" performances took place at a late hour - after the official performance, in a small and crowded changing room when the masters were asleep. The food that the artists were served was less than sophisticated and served from the servants' kitchen. In fact, the most common dish was simply a pie filled with cabbage - (Russian word "kapusta" means cabbage).
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Denise Mordecai reads her poem "Butterfly" |
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Later on the name "Kapusnik" became a synonym for a very special and sought after event, often sold to insiders and friends, renowned for it enjoyable and sometimes satirical nature. Even as "Kapustnik" became more sophisticated in its presentation, it always left room for improvisation and surprise. Modern "Kapusnik" still remained a light hearted parody since it was created by artists and musicians for their own enjoyment - to laugh at their patrons and producers, as well as to allow them into their own bohemian world, while laughing at themselves.
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Ira Marlowe, song writer, singer, comedian. Click on image to go to his webpage. |
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In modern times "Kapusnik" became popular in most Arts & Music Colleges in Russia. The tradition still lives on allowing both students and professors to collaborate and to perform together crossing the borders of status and experience. (The author of these paragraphs was once locked in by a very concerned piano professor to prevent her involvement in the co-production of such an event.)
And, finally, as probably one of the most important roles played in the culture, the format of "Kapusnik" served for many decades as an underground outlet for the open, satirical, and politically "incorrect" expression of intellectuals, particularly during the Soviet regime.
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Rosie's Act is already full of Class |
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Due to its vitality this tradition transcends international borders and cultures, providing a format where the audience feels a part of the show, where performers are comfortable to improvise or to "test" the response of the audience with some material they would not present on "a big stage," where amateurs might dare "take the stage" among seasoned professional artists, where the mix of genres and media is expected, and, of course, where nowadays the food is great and the artists and musicians are respected, welcomed, admired and inspired by the audience and their own friends and colleagues.
"Kapusnik", you are born again! Long live "Kapusnik"! And, I hope to see you at our 1st Arts and Music Salon on New Year's Eve.
By Rozalina Gutman, the founder of !Class Act Productions.
Edited by Daniel Steven Crafts, Composer, Emmy Award Recipient
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Where else, but in Berkeley! |
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To find out more about our Foundation, to submit demo materials & proposals for our future exhibits/performances/readings, to collaborate with us for production of events, to sponsor our events, & to volunteer for various projects, please, click on rgutman@CHARISMAfoundation.org or rozalinapiano@comcast.net
Please, be sure to visit our site again soon for more updates and some really fun stuff as well as for quiz rewards & prizes for both kids and adults. We are in a process of making the most unique and interactive site with inspiring creative activities, implementing the most advanced learning technique "Edutainment".
To hear about our future events and presentations, to be invited to our current and future performers' CD release/recording parties or other free/discounted admission events, to receive Special Invitations and Discounts for "Circle of Admirers and Insiders" on shows, CD's, & other items of limited quantities, to participate in our on-line contests with prize offers by our sponsors, please, go to the bottom of the Founder's Welcome page by clicking the tab on the blue pannel below and leave us your contact info (scroll down to the sign up form).
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Music Proficiency Level #1- Collect 1 Reward Point |
Guess the names of this famous piece & composer. |
1. Go to page"ART OF TEACHING" |
2. Click on the picture of THE ROSE to write your answer |
3. Remember to press the button "Send" on your browser |
For the correct answer, come back later - after the deadline to reply, we will post it next to the following QUIZ sample. If your 1st answer is wrong - DON'T GIVE UP! Check back - for some more challenging samples later on we may post a few helpful CLUES. |
If your answer was correct, we will get in touch with you about your REWARD POINTS and how to redeem them. |
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