A Few Of Our Favorite Things: Carr-Petrova Duo Talk Dream Vacations, Louisville Eateries, and More
Violist Molly Carr and Pianist Anna Petrova.
Your favorite classical musicians are like celebrities to you—you’re obsessed with their music, their talent, and of course, finding out all of their favorite things. Hey, we’re no different. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to set up the newest feature of Classical Post, Artist Favorites, where we dive into what each of our favorite classical music artists love. (Yeah, you can thank us later).
In this section, we hear first-hand from some of the most talented musicians of our generation. Sure, they talk about their music and their passion, but they also answer the burning questions we all have about their lives. Where do they love to eat? What’s their dream vacation? What does a non-performing night even look like for them?
In other words, we get the pleasure of hearing our favorite classical music artists tell us what they love—and we’re here to gladly gobble up all the information that we can.
Our Artist Favorites feature today doesn’t just feature one remarkable artist, but two! (You know what they say, after all—two is better than one).
Meet Molly Car and Anna Petrova—the two explosively talented musicians behind the Carr-Petrova duo. Both women (Molly Carr, violist, and Anna Petrova, pianist), fiercely skilled and artistically enlightened, were notable, award-winning soloists before they joined forces to create the remarkable duo. The two began playing together during their years at the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School Music in 2005—they’ve been performing together ever since, traveling the globe and participating in festivals, playing in world-famous venues, and building a reputation marked by words like “enlightened” (BBC), “explosive” (Virginia Gazette), and “irresistibly elegant” (Diario de Leon).
In their most recent years, the Duo launched Novel Voices —a year-long initiative created to help raise awareness through art about the struggles of refugees across the globe; have had their debuts in venues like Carnegie Hall; and have continued to travel the globe, performing in venues across the world ranging from honored music halls to food pantries.
Classical Post fans, meet the Carr-Petrova Duo.
Where Do You Love to Eat When in Louisville?
CARR-PETROVA DUO:
Anna currently lives in Louisville, so we use it as a rehearsal hub often and know it well by now!
We have some favorite restaurants, which we crave when we’re away from Louisville, including the farm-to-market Harvest and their home-made pasta dishes which change monthly; Seviche, a Latin-American fusion restaurant specializing in ceviche dishes; and Migo for their yuca tots (which are irresistible!).
We are both also absolutely obsessed with the Kingslayer cocktail in Proof on Main and highly recommend the bar and restaurant to anyone who visits town. It is a special venue which features exhibitions of contemporary art, photography, and installations, which change frequently.
If You Had a Dream Place to Live, Where Would it Be?
Pianist Anna Petrova
ANNA:
I love both the beach and the mountains, so if I had a way of combining both that’s where I would live. There is probably such a place that I am still to discover. But more practically speaking, the dream place to live is a) close to nature; b) very close to an airport! c) a place that has a sense of community and social life that reminds me of Europe and home.
MOLLY:
I grew up in the ruggedly beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains with two geologists for parents, and so much of my childhood was spent enjoying the outdoors through hiking and backpacking trips (which always included extended explanations of geologic formations). This definitely is still in my blood even though I have lived in NYC for almost 15 years! And so, while I love all that a big city like New York has to offer (and the quick and easy travel options to all the rest of the world), my heart has always longed to be in the mountains again. In my travels so far, it seems like either San Francisco or Denver might be cities that could fulfill both sides of my life nicely (as both also have big airports, so that traveling for concerts is still an easy option!).
What Are Your Favorite Places to Visit or Vacation?
ANNA:
Vacation. Hmmm, it hasn’t really happened in a long time. But when it happens, here are some of the places I would most like to visit.
In the winter I love visiting the different spa resorts in the Bulgarian mountains. We have many natural springs in Bulgaria where the water has different chemical make-up which helps for a number of health concerns. I have no health concerns (yet!), but simply love to soak in the natural spring waters or go to a sauna and steam room.
In the summer, one of the most beautiful places I have visited is the Greek Island Santorini. It is a magical and very romantic place.
Places I would love to visit are India, Egypt, and the Caribbean. So those are definitely at the top of my list. India and Egypt are cultures I have always wanted to experience. I’ve had a fascination with both countries since childhood—for their food, traditions, and history. The Caribbean is a destination for which I crave every time I see advertisements for Lazur beaches with white sand and palm trees when I’m bundled up in my coat in the bleak winter months of the North.
MOLLY:
First, Bavaria, Germany—I had the opportunity to perform a concert tour of Germany a few years ago, during which our last two concerts took place in the spa/resort castle called Schloss Elmau in the Bavarian Alps. Staying in this luxury spa retreat was like waking up in a fairytale each morning: looking out of my bedroom window at the absolutely breathtaking beauty of the mountains, enjoying way too much gourmet food, relaxing in the heated outdoor pools after long hikes, and having massages to relax after our rehearsals. This was an experience I will certainly never forget, and ever since that visit, I have been hoping to make it back to experience Schloss Elmau again as soon as possible.
Valencia, Spain—Valencia is a city which I have had the opportunity to enjoy more times than I can count, but every time I return, I love it even more! The people are super friendly and warm, the food is delicious and varied, the nightlife is hoppin’, the shops are charming, and of course, the beaches are spectacular! I’m looking forward very much to the Duo’s next visit in January for our debut album celebration concert!
New Zealand—New Zealand has been on the list of my top places to visit for about the past 20 years, ever since I was a child watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy and, again, seeing mountains and scenery that took my breath away! I have had several friends who have taken vacations in New Zealand, and they have all confirmed that it is, indeed, an ideal vacation destination!
Scotland—A few years ago, my father became completely obsessed with mapping out my family’s genealogy, and we learned about our ancestors from Scotland, the Kerr (‘Carr’) clan. I would love to visit and walk through my family’s history, including the Kerr Ferniehirst Castle!
Nepal—Nepal has also been on my list for about a decade, because it’s a place that I know so very little about. And, of course, it also has the greatest mountain range in the world: the Himalayas!
If You’re a Shopping Fiend, What Are Your Favorite Brands?
CARR-PETROVA DUO:
Both of us tend to get a bit overwhelmed when it’s time for a shopping trip, but lately, we both needed to update our professional wardrobe and just randomly entered a mall in Louisville where we actually discovered that Express had a lot of what we needed at the time! The clothes happened to also all be 40% off at the time - so we made off like bandits!
On a Non-Performing Night, What Do You Love to Do?
ANNA:
Usually, there would be many emails to answer, practicing to be done and preparations for a class or a presentation. But, when there is too much work and I just need to disconnect, I love to either pour a glass of wine and enjoy a good movie or a book or go out with friends to the different bars in Louisville—and most often would end up singing karaoke or playing pool!
MOLLY:
I agree with Anna that our nights are usually filled with emails, practicing, and preparations for various upcoming projects, tours, presentations, or teaching days, etc. But on those rare nights when all of this can be put aside, one of my favorite activities is actually setting up “sight-reading parties” with friends. My neighborhood in NYC happens to be one of the most jam-packed ‘hoods’ for classical musicians in the city, and so it usually only takes a phone call or two to gather enough people to enjoy an evening of friends, drinks, and relaxed read-throughs of string quartets, quintets, and sextets!
