Violinist fiddles — from Moldova to Port Ludlow

PORT LUDLOW — This has to be one of the most musically diverse performances ever to happen here.

Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5, tunes from “Schindler’s List” and “Fiddler on the Roof,” and even the fiddle classic “Orange Blossom Special” are all together Friday as Moldovan violinist Valeri Glava and American pianist Lee Tomboulian arrive at the Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Place.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. for the 8 p.m. concert, presented by the Port Ludlow Arts Council with help from a Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) grant.

Tickets are $24 at the Bay Club, which can be reached at 360-437-2208. To order with a credit card, visit www.PortLudlowArtsCouncil.com.

In his native Moldova, Glava is considered a national treasure.

He started playing violin when he was 8 years old at a school in Chisinau, Moldova, back when that country was part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Glava’s longtime dream was to come to the United States and share his music.

When Ukrainian-born comedian Yakov Smirnov invited Glava to join his show in Branson, that came true — in the Missouri music city where entertainers have ranged from Johnny Cash to Dick Clark to Phyllis Diller.

Glava became a big hit in Branson and between 1998 and 2001 received nominations for Violinist of the Year and Best New Show.

In 2001, Branson audiences voted him Instrumentalist of the Year and Headliner of the Year.

Glava also performed at the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas until it closed in October 2010. He next played at Vegas’ Venetian Hotel.

The violinist’s music is available online at www.ValeriGlava.net.

Tomboulian, a New York-born composer, plays jazz piano, accordion and keyboards — and sings, having studied African-American gospel music in Texas.

Today, he teaches jazz improvisation and jazz piano at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wis.

Student concert earlier

Earlier Friday, Tomboulian and Glava will play for some 325 elementary school students in the Chimacum School District in a program promoting music appreciation and cultural diversity.

During the hour before the evening concert at the Bay Club, patrons are invited to gather in the great room for a showing of artist Virginia Moyer’s photography from around the world.

The venue also offers a Russian-themed preconcert supper of beet salad, lamb stew with roasted fingerling potatoes and apple tart a la Russe beginning at 5 p.m.

To make dinner reservations, phone 360-437-7412.

________

Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.

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