The State Chamber Orchestra «‎Moscow Virtuosi» will present a new project – a concert mystery «‎Seasons of the year. Rethinking».

The conceptual programme will combine music from the Baroque period with works from the 20th century, and the culmination will be a performance of «‎Seasons of the Year» by Max Richter – a contemporary composer who in 2012 rethought the famous Antonio Vivaldi cycle. The visual accompaniment will be an animated video created especially for the project by artists from Canada.

«‎By the beginning of the new season, we decided to make a special, unusual project in form. This is not just a concert where the orchestra performs a number of works. It is a philosophical performance inspired by the idea of rethinking the music of old times. Bach, Purcell, Lully, Dowland and Vivaldi are very modern in their style and ideas. And we want to build an arch between them and the 21st century, to invite our listeners to reflect on this topic together. Eugene Isai, who in the 20th century had a dialogue with Bach in his work, and Max Richter, whose «‎Seasons» inspired us on this project», says Sergei Bezrodny, author of the idea of the concert, Honoured Artist of Russia and soloist of the Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra.

Max Richter is called a composer who has made a breakthrough in the art of music. He has recorded 12 solo albums, performed at London’s Barbican, Paris Philharmonic, Sydney Opera House and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and his projects include the opera Sum and the ballet Infra (choreographed by Wayne McGregor) at Covent Garden. Richter’s music is heard in many plays around the world, as well as in the films «‎The Island of the Damned» by Martin Scorsese, «‎The Last Love on Earth» by David Mackenzie, «‎Waltz and Bashir», for the soundtrack to which he received the «‎Best Composer» award from the European Film Academy. Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons is one of the composer’s most famous works. Since its release in 2012, the recording has led the classical music charts in over 20 countries.

«‎Moscow Virtuosi» will be one of the few performers of Richter’s Vremen of the Year in Russia. The solo part will be played by the orchestra’s concertmaster, Honoured Artist of Russia Alexei Lundin.

Concert programme

D. Dowland. Lacrimé («‎Bathe my tears») for 3 violas, 2 cellos and a harpsichord.
Performed by: Honoured Artist of Kabardino-Balkaria Vitaly Khandras, Honoured Artist of Russia Anton Kulapov, laureate of international competitions Vasily Danilets (violas), laureates of international competitions Alexander Nepomniashchy, Aleksey Kropotov (cello), Honoured Artist of Russia Sergey Bezrodny (harpsichord)

G. Purcell. Suite Abdelazar

I.S. Bach. Symphony from Kantata No. 29 (arranged by A. Strelnikov for violin and orchestra)
Soloist – Alexey Strelnikov (violin)

E. Isaiah. Solo Violin Sonata No. 2, Part 1 (Instigation)
Performed by Lev Yomdin (violin), winner of international competitions

G.B. Lully. Overture and dance from the comedy ballet «‎The Bourgeois in the Nobility».

E. Isaiah. Solo Violin Sonata No. 2, Part 4 («‎Furies»)
Performed by Evgeny Stembolsky (violin)

E. Elgar. Adagio

А. Vivaldi-M. Richter. «‎Seasons of the year. Rethinking» (Notes provided by Mute Song publishing house)
Soloist – Alexei Lundin (violin)

The programme is performed without a conductor.