|
|
|
| | Arts Calendar / January 24 / Concerts |
|
|
|
19:00 | Rachmaninov. Vsenochnoye Bdeniye (All-Night Vigil) |
|
|
|
|
 Yurlov Russian State Academic Choir, Conductor – Gennady Dmitryak togetjer with Russian National Orchestra and Yevgenia Segenyuk (mezzo-soprano) will perform Rachmaninov, Vsenochnoye Bdeniye; Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), Stabat Mater, cantata for Soloists, Choir and Orchestra (fragments) and Symphony "A Song of Ascents" for Choir and Orchestra. The All-Night Vigil is an a cappella choral composition by Sergei Rachmaninoff, his Op. 37, written and premiered on March 23, 1915 in Moscow. The piece consists of settings of texts taken from the Russian Orthodox All-night vigil ceremony. It has been praised as Rachmaninoff's finest achievement and "the greatest musical achievement of the Russian Orthodox Church". It was one of Rachmaninoff's two favorite compositions along with The Bells, and the composer requested that its fifth movement (Nunc Dimittis) be sung at his funeral. Hilarion Alfeyev is a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. At present he is the Metropolitan of Volokolamsk, the chairman of the Department of External Church Relations and a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Moscow. He is also a noted theologian, church historian and composer and has published books on dogmatic theology, patristics and church history as well as numerous compositions for choir and orchestra. lfeyev is author of numerous musical compositions. His St Matthew Passion, grand oratorio for soloists, choir and orchestra, received a standing ovation at its performances at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, at the Auditorium Conciliazione, Rome (29 March 2007), and at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne (28 September 2007). Equally well received was his Christmas Oratorio, performed in Washington, Boston and New York (18–20 December 2007) and later in Moscow (7 and 15 January 2008) and his Stabat Mater (world premiere in January 2012 under the direction of Vladimir Spivakov).
Moscow Conservatory Great Hall  |
|
|
|
|
19:00 | VII Moscow Christmas Festival of Sacred Music. Festival Closing Concert |
|
|
|
|
 Academic Grand Choir «Masters of Choral Singing», Lev Kontorovich (artistic director) and The National Philharmonic of Russia, Conductor Vladimir Spivakov tpgether with Soloists: Anna Aglatova (soprano), Svetlana Shilova (mezzo-soprano), Alexei Neklyudov (tenor), Oleg Tsybulko (bass) will perform Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns, Requiem for choir and soloists; Tchaikovsky, Simphony No 5. The National Philharmonic of Russia (NPR) was founded in January 2003 and united top orchestra musicians and gifted youth. The Orchestra was headed by Vladimir Spivakov, a world-known violinist and conductor. During 14 years of its activities, the NPR has become one of the major Russian orchestras. The NPR has been collaborating with such sought-after maestros as James Conlon, Ken-David Masur, Alexander Lazarev, Krzysztof Penderecki, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Otto Tausk, Simon Gaudenz, Alexander Vedernikov, Tugan Sokhiev, Jan Latham-Koenig, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, John Nelson, Michel Plasson and others. NPR performed with world-class soloists, including Jessye Norman, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Kiri Te Kanawa, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Maria Gulegina, Juan Diego Florez, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Matthias Goerne, Marcelo Alvarez, Waltraud Meier, Violeta Urmana, Anna Netrebko, Victor Tretiakov, Gidon Kremer, Natalia Gutman, John Lill, Denis Matsuev, Vadim Gluzman, Arkady Volodos and many others. Every year the NPR takes part in the Colmar Music Festival, France. The Orchestra has toured over Russia, the CIS and the Baltic countries, in Europe, the USA, and Japan. The NPR’s discography amounts to several CDs presenting works by Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Rachmaninov, Schwartz, Grieg, Stravinsky, Taneyev. Grand choir was founded in 1928, its founder and first artistic director was a master of choral art A.V.Sveshnikov. At various times, he was guided by such great musicians as N.S.Golovanov, I.M.Kuvykin, K.B.Ptitsa, L.V.Ermakova. In 2005, the Grand Choir (known as the «Masters of Choral Singing») for the post of artistic director was invited by the People’s Artist of Russia, Professor Lev Kontorovich. Under his leadership, the updated composition of the choir successfully continues the traditions established by their predecessors. The name itself — «Masters of Choral Singing» — determined the professionalism, high level of performance, exceptional speed and versatility of the team, where each artist can act as a member of the choir and as a soloist. For 85 years, the choir performed more than 5,000 works — operas, oratorios, cantatas Russian and foreign composers, works a’cappella, folk songs and sacred music. Many of them were the «golden fund» of the national record, gained recognition abroad (Grand Prix competition of recordings in Paris, the «Gold Medal» in Valencia).
MMDM Svetlanov Hall |
|
|
|
|
19:00 | Yuri Bashmet's Birthday |
|
|
|
|
 Dedicated to 25 anniversary of Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Conductor & soloist – Yury Bashmet (viola). In program: Schubert, Symphony No. 8 ("Unfinished"); Arpeggione Sonata (arranged for viola and strings by Kluge — Balashov); Symphony No. 3; Mass. Yuri Bashmet developed a highly successful international career as a violist, but then, like so many talented instrumentalists of his generation, branched out into conducting, even founding an orchestra. He has never abandoned the viola, managing to split his time in even portions between soloist and conductor, often appearing in both roles in the same concert. He has performed with the world's leading orchestras, including those in Moscow, Berlin, Paris, New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and many other locales. He has also collaborated as soloist and conductor with some of the most celebrated string players of his time, including Rostropovich, Stern, Kremer, Mutter, and Mintz, as well as with keyboard legends like Richter and Argerich. For all his talent, Bashmet has been surrounded by controversy in the latter half of his career, owing to last-minute cancellations and sudden changes in concert programs. Yet he remains arguably the leading violist of his time and a powerful champion of contemporary music: indeed, a spate of major composers wrote works for him, including Schnittke, Sofia Gubaidulina, Giya Kancheli, Poul Ruders, John Taverner, and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Bashmet has made numerous recordings for a variety of mostly major labels, including Melodiya, DG, EMI, RCA, Sony, Onyx, and Toccata Classics. Bashmet took up conducting in 1985 and the following year founded the Moscow Soloists, a chamber orchestra that quickly developed a wide following. In 1992 he re-founded the ensemble when the original members decided to set their base of operations in France. In 1996 Bashmet became a professor of music at Moscow Conservatory, where he had taught since 1978.
Tchaikovsky Concert Hall |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The virtual community for English-speaking expats and Russians
