RUSSIAN RAPTURE: RACHMANINOFF AND TCHAIKOVSKY Continues Jeffrey Siegel's Keyboard Conversations Series Tonight

With the ardor of Anna Karenina in the air - and movie theaters - nothing celebrates romance more than the music of Russian composers, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. Russian Rapture: Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, the second concert in Jeffrey Siegel's KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS series presented in Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center tonight, February 4 at 7:30pm by Friends of Keyboard Conversations, will romance the audience with a pre-Valentine's Day program featuring "some of the most melodic, dramatic, enthralling and passionate music in the piano repertoire," says Siegel. "Bring a significant other!"

"People who love romantic music should not miss this concert highlighting two of the most beloved and popular composers of all time, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, " says Siegel. "There will be familiar compositions, as well as a couple of great works off the beaten track that will be magnificent musical discoveries for most listeners. The program will include the giddy Humoreskes of both composers, the hauntingly sad Lullaby of Tchaikovsky, excerpts from the Seasons (how does a composer get "inspiration" and how does he write inspired music without it?) the ever changing strong moods of Dumka, and Variations on an original Melody - one of Tchaikovsky's most beautiful melodies upon which he spins his genius.

From Rachmaninoff, we will have the celebrated C-sharp Minor Prelude, a rare example of a piece of music that a young composer writes that brings him immediate - and worldwide - fame, as well as a deeply affecting series of short pieces, one written the night his wife gave birth to his first daughter, another inspired by a storm, and a third work that was the composer's personal favorite."

The February 4th concert in Philadelphia will also debut the release of Mr. Siegel's latest CD "The Romantic Music of Chopin," featuring many of the composer's most beloved, heartfelt works, including the famous, immediately recognizable A-flat Polonaise ("Heroic"), the haunting, nostalgic C-Sharp Minor Waltz, and the composer's last composition, a deeply expressive Mazurka. The CD, which will be available nationwide, was commercially recorded at the Kimmel Center's beautiful Perelman Theater. A post-concert CD signing will follow the performance.

Jeffrey Siegel's triumphant return to the Kimmel Center stage in October was made possible by generous donations from his passionate fans and the help of Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts President and CEO Anne Ewers. Mr. Siegel has a history of romancing the audience with brilliant gifts of captivating insight, enticing with wit and charm, and enthralling with dynamic performances of piano masterpieces.

KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS are concerts with captivating, entertaining commentary, followed by a lively Q & A. The popular three-concert series - now in its eighth season - will conclude on May 21, 2013 with Listen to the Dance: Waltzes, Marches, Polkas and Tangos! --works spanning more than two centuries - from Beethoven, Chopin, and Mendelssohn to Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Astor Piazzola.

Mr. Siegel has a long, proud affiliation with Philadelphia. He has appeared several times as soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, most notably under the direction of the legendary conductor Eugene Ormandy, and with Charles Dutoit. He has also appeared as guest pianist with The New Philadelphia Quartet.

Keyboard Conversations series are presented annually across the United States, in Canada and in London. Jeffrey Siegel has been featured on Oprah Radio's 'Dr. Oz Show,' as guest of Dr. Mehmet Oz. 'Piano Treasures,' a one-hour TV special produced by Time Life, was recently broadcast by more than 150 PBS stations nationwide.

JEFFREY SIEGEL has been soloist with the world's great orchestras. Abroad, these include the Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony, Philharmonic and Philharmonia, Moscow State Symphony, Munich's Bayerischer Rundfunk, the Amsterdam, Oslo and Stockholm Philharmonic, Orchestra of La Scala and NHK Symphony of Japan. In addition to engagements with the Philadelphia Orchestra, United States, engagements have included the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are available by phone at 215-893-1999, online at www.kimmelcenter.org, and in person at the Kimmel Center Box Office 300 Broad Street (Broad & Spruce).