On February 14, Salon Aux Chandelles presents an intimate Valentine’s program featuring world-class musicians inside a historic Manhattan sculpture foundry—an atmospheric, skylit space where live-flame candlelight, music, and architecture meet.
Following the performance, a wine reception invites guests to linger, converse, and connect. The salon cultivates authentic relationships among guests from the worlds of fashion, finance, music, and the arts. *Photography and interviews may be conducted throughout the evening.
Dress code: cocktail or creative black tie.
Notes: Seating is limited; program and performers are subject to change.
**PROGRAM
Giuseppe Cambini – Duet for Violin & Viola in C minor (3')
Performers:
Vartan Mailiantz, violin
Alexandra Andreeva, violaLudvig Beethoven – Sonata No. 8 "Pathétique", 2nd movement (5')
Performer:
Christina Lee, pianoLudvig Beethoven – Immortal Beloved (Love Letter)
Reader:
Vartan MailiantzGiacomo Puccini – "O mio babbino caro" from the opera Gianni Schicchi (3')
Performers:
Brea Marshall, soprano
Emma Taggart, pianoPyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – "Natalia's Aria" from the opera The Oprichnik (4.5')
Performers:
Brea Marshall, soprano
Emma Taggart, pianoFranz Liszt-Charles Gounod – Valse de l'opéra "Faust", S. 407 (10')
Performers:
Emma Taggart, pianoClaude Debussi – C'est L'extase (3')
Performers:
Freja Højland Høj, soprano
Emma Taggart, pianoLéo Delibes - Flower Duet fro the opera Lakmé (7')
Performers:
Freja Højland Høj, soprano
Brea Marshall, soprano
Emma Taggart, pianoGeroge Bizet-Franz Waxman - Carmen Fantasy for Violin & Piano (10')
Performers:
Vartan Mailiantz, violin
Emma Taggart, piano
Alexandra Andreeva is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning violist known for her exquisite tone and extraordinary musicality. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including Stern Auditoriumat Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the J. F. Kennedy Center. With a career spanning more than a decade, Andreeva has captivated audiences across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas with her profound artistry and expressive interpretations. Her passion for both classical and contemporary works has made her a highly sought-after performer, celebrated for her ability to bring depth and elegance to every stage she graces.
Vartan Mailiantzis an internationally acclaimed, award-winning violinist, celebrated for his captivating performances and profound artistry. He has graced the stagesof over 20 countries across Europe, Asia, South, and North America, performing as a soloist at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Albert Hall, Lincoln Center, and the J. F. Kennedy Center. Renowned for his virtuosic technique and deep emotional expression, Mailiantz excels as both a soloist and chamber musician, delivering unforgettable performances that resonate with audiences worldwide. His unwavering dedication to music has established him as one of the most sought-after violinists of his generation.
Freja Højland Høj is a soprano, performer, and improviser from Denmark. Described as a “gorgeous soaring soprano” in the German Magazine OPER!, Freja seeks interdisciplinary collaboration and explores the intersection between classical singing, theater-making, performance, improvisation, and electronics.
Her previous projects include the premiere of M. Vestergård’s song cycle KRISER, Female Voice 1 in Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians, the Danish Radio Broadcast of Earl Kim’s Where Grief Slumbers, and the Copenhagen Opera Festival premiere of Queen Annabell, a new opera by Faun Vium and Amanda Drew. Other appearances include Festival & Friends, Den Fynske Opera, Copenhagen Opera Festival, Theatre S/H, and The Stone (NYC).
In 2024, Freja was awarded the Birkhave Honorary Prize in recognition of her musical talent, her wide-ranging artistic work, and her commitment to exploring new creative pathways.
Freja holds a Master of Music degree in classical singing from the Royal Danish Academy of Music and the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship, with artistic practice and an interest in electronic composition, improvisation, and research, under Dr. Levy Lorenzo at The New School College of Performing Arts in New York.
Soprano Brea Marshall is an accomplished vocalist currently pursuing her second year in the Professional Studies Diploma in Voice at Mannes School of Music at The New School, where she studies under the renowned Arthur Levy. Known for her compelling performances and versatile artistry, Ms. Marshall has brought a range of roles to life, including Miss Jessel in Britten’s "The Turn of the Screw" and Girlfriend No. 2 in the world premiere of "Blue" by Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson at The Glimmerglass Festival.
Her role in Blue was set to mark her Lincoln Center debut at The Mostly Mozart Festival in 2020; however, this milestone was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the fall of 2023, Ms. Marshall portrayed Donna Elvira in Mozart’s "Don Giovanni" with Mannes Opera, earning acclaim for her dynamic interpretation.
A passionate advocate of vocal performance beyond the operatic stage, Ms. Marshall participated in Marilyn Horne’s prestigious "The Song Continues" masterclass series at Carnegie Hall, further honing her artistry. She is also an alumnus of the Houston Grand Opera Young Artists Vocal Academy, where she developed her skills as a promising young artist.
With a voice described as both powerful and emotive, BreaMarshall continues to captivate audiences and explore new dimensions in her artistry.
Emma Taggart has been performing publicly since her first solo recital at age six. She has been featured multiple times on national public radio and news (WQXR NYC, Kare11MN, ClassicalMPR) and is a three-time alum of NPR’s From The Top.
Emma appeared 11 times with the MN Orchestra during their 2018-2019 season, performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Saint Saens’ Carnival of the Animals. She has received first prizes in the YPSCA Minnesota Orchestra Concerto Competition, the Mannes School of Music Concerto Competition, the Maria Herrero International Piano Competition, the Schubert Club Regional Scholarship Competition, and the United States International Duo Piano Competition, amongst others. She was a laureate in the 2024 North American PianoArts Competition, the 2022 New York International Piano Competition, and the 2022 Palm Springs International Piano Competition. An avid performer, she has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Russa’s Marble Palace, and Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall. She has worked with Hung Kuan Chen (Aspen Music Festival), Matti Raekallio (Bowdoin Chamber Music Festival), Richard Goode, John O’Conor, and Julian Martin.
Emma is currently pursuing a master’s degree on a full tuition scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music with Michelle Cann. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the Mannes School of Music with Simone Dinnerstein.
Christina Lee is a music theorist and pianist based in NYC. As an enthusiastic and dedicated music instructor, she has taught theory (and theory-adjacent) courses in several institutions, including NYU, Montclair State University, and Hunter College, in addition to teaching private lessons. She currently serves on the college and graduate faculty at both the Juilliard School and Mannes The New School for Music, where she has the privilege of connecting the extraordinary talents of young artists to the limitless study and analysis of the music they perform. As a pianist, Christina has been a featured solo and chamber artist in various venues around New York City, including Carnegie Hall, and has also performed concerts in Boston, Italy, and Spain. Her music is inspired by the many teachers who have shaped her own journey; they include Yuri Kim and Carl Schachter. She holds degrees in piano and music theory from Mannes and the CUNY Graduate Center.Fun facts about Christina: In her spare time, she enjoys dancing and reading, and she eagerly waits for The Winds of Winter. As a native New Yorker, she also avidly roots for the best sports team in the world—the New York Knicks.
*By purchasing tickets, attendees acknowledge and consent to the possibility of appearing in official photographs and media features produced by Salon Aux Chandelles.
**Program and performers are subject to change.