On February 27th at 2pm, Chicago’s Spertus Institute presents Pianist Inna Faliks in a a rare musical exploration of three outstanding Jewish composers. She’ll highlight 19th-century composer Franny Mendelssohn, 20th-century master George Gershwin, and acclaimed contemporary composer Lev “Ljova” Zhurbin, who will join her for a musical dialogue. Ljova’s influences include klezmer, jazz, and classical music, whose styles he blends into something wonderful and new.

Inna Faliks is one of today’s most passionate and poetic young pianists. She performs in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Salle Cortot in Paris, and Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall. She is curator and founder of the poetry-music series Music/Words.

Ljova was hailed by Billboard Magazine as “one of New York’s fastest-rising composers.” A Moscow native, he moved to New York in 1990. Today he arranges music for Yo Yo Ma, the Kronos Quartet, Jay-Z, and others and composes original music. He also performs as a violist in his own group, Ljova and the Kontraband.

This program takes place at the Highland Park Community House, 1991 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, IL. Tickets are $18 | $10 for Spertus members | $8 for students.