On December 13 at AP Space Gallery, Salon Aux Chandelles brings an immersive holiday program to a contemporary art setting, weaving together Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, selections from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, and beloved Christmas classics in a vivid, string-driven journey through winter.
Beyond the performance, the salon cultivates authentic connections among guests from the worlds of fashion, finance, music, and the arts, as attendees stay to converse and savor the atmosphere. *Photography and interviews may be conducted throughout the evening, capturing both the performance and its audience.
More than a concert, Salon Aux Chandelles stands as a celebration of art, culture, and sophistication — an unforgettable experience that transcends the ordinary. We invite guests to dress in cocktail attire or creative black tie, embracing the spirit of elegance that defines our salon experience.
PROGRAM
1. Jule Styne - Let It Snow (2')
Performers:
Valeria Chibis, soprano
Anna Aistova, soprano
2. Gaetano Donizetti-Eric Serra - "Il Dolce Suono" from The 5th Element (6')
Performers:
Anna Aistova, soprano
3. George Bizet - Habanera from the opera "Carmen" (5')
Performers:
Valeria Chibis, soprano
Vartan Mailiantz, 1st violin
Sasha Yakub, 2nd violin
Alexandra Andreeva, viola
Jon Kim, cello
4. Antonio Vivaldi – "The Four Seasons" - Winter: Allegro non Molto, Largo, Allegro (10')
Performers:
Vartan Mailiantz, 1st violin
Sasha Yakub, 2nd violin
Alexandra Andreeva, viola
Jon Kim, cello
5. Pyotr Tchaikovsky – "The Nutcracker Suite" (14')
Performers:
Vartan Mailiantz, 1st violin
Sasha Yakub, 2nd violin
Alexandra Andreeva, viola
Jon Kim, cello
6. Antonio Vivaldi – "The Four Seasons" - Summer: Presto (3')
Performers:
Vartan Mailiantz, 1st violin
Sasha Yakub, 2nd violin
Alexandra Andreeva, viola
Jon Kim, cello
7. Franz Gruber - Silent Night (2')
Performers:
Valeria Chibis, soprano
Anna Aristova, soprano
Vartan Mailiantz, 1st violin
Sasha Yakub, 2nd violin
Alexandra Andreeva, viola
Jon Kim, cello
Artist's Biographies
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 Auditorium at 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 Mailiantz is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning concert violinist, celebrated for his captivating performances and profound artistry. He has graced the stages of over 20 countries across Europe, Asia, South, and North America, performing as a soloist at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal 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.
Valeria Chibis, an operatic soprano and laureate of international competitions, is known for her electrifying stage presence. She debuted as Tatiana in "Eugene Onegin" at France's Durance Luberon Festival in 2017. Valeria has performed at Carnegie Hall, Opera America Center, the United Nations, and more, and continues to inspire audiences worldwide with her extraordinary voice.
Anna Aistova began her musical journey at six, transitioning from piano studies to voice, earning degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Mannes School of Music. She has performed with the Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky theaters, the Folk Orchestra of Saint Petersburg, and taken leading roles in operas such as Norina in Don Pasquale, La Feè in Cendrillon, and Calisto in La Calisto. Notable achievements include solo performances in Mahler’s 4th Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem, and Magnificat with Musica Viva NY, and Adele in Die Fledermaus with New Rochelle Opera. A finalist in the SAS Performing Arts Competition (2023) and Second Prize winner in the John Alexander National Competition (2024), Anna began 2025 as a Resident Artist at the Castleton Festival and is looking forward to a busy performing season ahead.
Alexander “Sasha” Yakub is a violinist who earned a Graduate Diploma from the Mannes School of Music in 2024 as the first—and only—student of Leila Josefowicz on full scholarship, following an MM (2022) as a President’s Scholar with Miranda Cuckson and a BA from Harvard, where he received the Robert Levin Prize and was an OFA Development Fellow. He has held fellowships with the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (Akademist, 2022–24), Tanglewood (2017–18), and Bang on a Can (2021), and was a Yamaha Young Artists honorable mention (2020). Recent highlights include runner-up in the 2024 Mannes Concerto Competition performing Adès’s Concentric Paths, and 2025 appearances with the Ostrava New Orchestra and Davos Festival Camerata (co-concertmaster), plus performances with the S.E.M. Ensemble and Orange Road Quartet. Upcoming engagements include the Whimsical Birdsong series (Westchester), the Mozarteum’s International Mozart Competition (Salzburg), and his debut recital tour as a Piatigorsky Artist in April.
Jonathan Kim is a cellist whose career spans solo, chamber, and orchestral work across the U.S. and Canada. A prizewinner of the Crane Concerto Competition, the Richard Stephan Chamber Music Competition, and Stony Brook’s Lauren V. Ackerman Competition (2025 winner with the Rhodora String Quartet), he has collaborated with Peter Wiley, Hsin-Yun Huang, Philip Setzer, Paul Neubauer, Jennifer Frautschi, and mentor Colin Carr, and appeared at Aspen, Sarasota, Manchester, Domaine Forget, Orford Musique, and Great Lakes (Shouse Institute Fellow). An active educator, he teaches at Concordia Conservatory and maintains a private studio on Long Island. Kim is a DMA candidate at Stony Brook University, where he earned his MM after a BM from the Crane School of Music.
*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.