The program was built on Vengerov's love of Bach and melody, and included a Russian composition 'Echo - Sonata for Solo Violin, Opus 69' by Rodion Shchedrin. The program notes state: The Echo Sonata refers back to Bachs music for solo violin - it is an echo of Bach's music. "I first played this piece when I was 10 years old," he says. "I memorized it because I wanted to impress composer, who was in audience. As you will see, it's still very difficult to memorize." Written to challenge stoutest of violinists, Shchedrin filled piece with a flurry of wildly spinning melodies, requiring exacting nimbleness of mind and finger.

The rest of program showcased four of six sonatas, written by Eugene Ysaye, a talented Belgian violinist who wrote each of pieces for different virtuosos. 'The Sonata No. 2 in A Minor, Opus 27, no. 2' is dedicated to Jacques Thibaud, who was "one of Ysaye's spiritual children," according to program notes. "And this is perhaps why music takes is such a 'soul-searching work' filled with rue and a dance of furies."

The program notes that "'The Sonata in D minor, Opus 27, no. 3, Ballade' is dedicated to George Enescu, Rumanian composer and violist whose friendship became increasingly vital to Ysaye in his later years, as musical establishment became dismissive and his gifts - this is a spectacular concentrated music that offers varied characters - from spare, agonized outset to fabulously technical run-to-the-finish. To hear Gypsy elements in music is to hear it as homage to dedicatee."

"'The Sonata in E minor, Opus 27, no. 4' is dedicated to Fritz Kreisler," program continues, "a violinist who combined virtuosity with a ferociously expressive insight, and also wrote light and lighthearted Viennese parlor pieces - music of this piece is pure and unaffected. The final moments are obsessive, intense and delirious."

The final piece of concert was written in tribute to Manual Quiroga, a Spanish violinist in "great tradition of Sarasate." It was dashing and full of bravado, honoring Quiroga's popular in Europe and United States. "There is a touch of obviously Spanish music and piece captures a youthful, optimistic spirit."

What else is there to do in Western Siberia?

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Cymber Quinn, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Vegas is coming together and receiving acclaim as a film center, location venue, and film festival draw. Even former mob lawyer and now Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar Goodman, got in act with a cameo in prostitute murder mystery 'Angel Blade' that also featured washed-up casino mogul Bob Stupak. In fact, many former film legends and washouts turned up in this indie circuit, including Margot Kidder, from Superman fame, and Tippi Hendrin, an Alfred Hitchcock thespian. It goes to show that everyone wants to be a star on some level. Now mayor wants to turn former downtown post office into a Mob Museum, which should be a real calling card, and I am sure hizzoner's movie poster mug will be at entrance, and he will be selling hot buttered popcorn, along with cheap D street wine. Can a Hoodlum Film Festival be far behind?

Las Vegas has increased its film noir allure beyond green felt jungle film titles of yesteryear, such as 'Casino,' 'Viva Las Vegas' (Hey, Ann-Margaret still performs here), and other gambling genre offshoots. Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire are still great locales for Sci Fi thrillers and dopey westerns, so if you are hiking trails, bring your video clips for a possible audition.

Revolution Film Works CEO and Executive Producer of Angel Blade presented a short seminar on film distribution during festival; it was an insight in difficulty of actually getting a film on silver screen; indie filmmakers will know how to pay back all that money advanced on their credit cards to produce their brainchild.

Independent filmmaking, and viewing, is a strange mix of bad acting, low budgets, lousy lighting and sound, and ennui. Occasionally a gem pops through, but most celluloid should be left on floor or digital delete button hit with repetition. What most indie's need is a good eye for editing.

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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com