Many out-of-province performers who tour in St. Albert during the winter months are surprised at the cold temperatures. Not accordionist Alexander Sevastian.
“I used to tour Siberia in -30 or -40,” laughs Sevastian, now a Toronto resident and spirited member of Quartetto Gelato, one of Canada’s most avant-garde classical groups. They’ve just released The Magic of Christmas, a seasonal album of whimsical interpretations and lush arrangements.
Much as Sevastian is proud of his accomplishments with Quartetto Gelato since 2002, every once in a while he relishes performing solo, such as the launch of the Arden Theatre’s On Stage Series on Sunday.
“When I am with Quartetto Gelato, I am one-fourth of the focus. When people see my solo show, I can explain the instrument,” he says.
Born in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, Sevastian’s father was a chemistry researcher and his mother a computer programmer. Hearing his father play the accordion, he desperately wanted to learn.
He asked his grandmother for money for lessons and kept it a secret until he’d learned enough to perform for his father. “He was surprised and started teaching me.”
At 14, he attended the Glinka Musical College in Minsk and would often play with the touring ensemble Zorachka Dance Co. “At that time, the Soviet Union was about to collapse and it was fun to tour with the dance company. It was such a cool thing. My school buddies were so jealous.”
By 1996, he was accepted at the Gnessin Academy in Moscow, where professors invite students with special talent to attend. “It was a very exciting time. I was absorbed and exposed to so much great Russian music and culture.”
The competition was stiff and to keep up he practiced a minimum six hours daily, studying a classical repertoire from masters such as Bach, Rachmaninoff, Scarlatti and contemporary classical works.
With solid classical training he joined the Russian Radio Orchestra and toured as a soloist throughout Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Italy and Japan. But a certain measure of creativity was curtailed and Sevastian decided to leave.
Sevastian loves hockey and Canada’s fanatical sports climate appealed to him. (He’s a Leafs fan now.) “But the wonderful thing is the country is full of immigrants. No matter how you speak, you have respect from every level. It’s very welcoming here.”
Since joining Quartetto Gelato he’s won four international competitions, performed Malcolm Forsyth’s Accordion Concerto at the New Creations Festival in 2008 and played at the Vancouver Olympics.
