The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor is delighted to welcome back pianist and composer Arsentiy Kharitonov on Saturday, July 11. Originally hailing from St. Petersburg, but a longtime resident of the US, he is a first-prize winner of the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition. After winning the Rachmaninov Competition as a young musician in Russia, he began his concert career with engagements throughout Europe, and now the USA.

Fanfare Magazine writes, “Arsentiy Kharitonov’s sumptuous tone, technical mastery, broad dramatic range, and elegant phrasing place him in the top ranks of keyboard players today. Above this and trumping most of the musical gymnasts of the day, there is genuine poetry here, the ring of truth, and, it seems to me, a rare sincerity issuing from a deep place in the pianist’s heart.” Asked about his compositional style, Kharitonov says, “I’d contrast my music with Minimalism – perhaps calling it Maximalism. More seriously, it’s difficult to define my own music. In essence, it has a deeply human element: emotional, intense, and rooted in the musical traditions of the past.”

In addition to his own works, Kharitonov’s recordings for Toccata Classics include the complete piano works of Leo Ornstein and the chamber works of Robert Kahn. Masterpieces by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Scriabin can be heard on the Hartshorn Classical label. Kharitonov’s recordings for Sound Atlas include piano works by Bach, Schubert, Mussorgsky, and Kharitonov’s own set of Concert Études.

Advance discounted tickets, $30, are available now, from the box office at 86 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor or by calling 207-633-5159.  The box office is open Wednesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular tickets are $35 online at https://boothbayoperahouse.com and the day of the concert. Doors for seating open at 7 p.m. and the music will begin at 7:30. The bar will have cold drinks for sale, cash only.