Program «Around the World in 80 …» last weekend in Krasnoyarsk, the four-day festival of Vladimir Spivakov and the Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra ended. The opening program was decorated by the premiere – a song by Wolf, performed in Krasnoyarsk for the first time in the original performance of the soloist Nadezhda Gulitskaya with the orchestra. «Moscow Virtuosi» featured works by Mozart, Shostakovich, «Summa» by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, and «Little Daneliade» by Giya Kancheli. The Krasnoyarsk public received the musicians with delight, summoning Maestro Spivakov for an encore four times.

«I really wanted to come here because we were friends with Dmitry Khvorostovsky. He always spoke with warmth about his hometown, friends and teachers. After he was gone, I thought it was my duty to come to Krasnoyarsk. The first concert was composed of works by Dmitry Khvorostovsky. I am very happy that the audience is so sensitive to his memory and so wonderfully received the performance. I would say that it is mutual happiness when you come to a city like this – you seem to feel tired, but at the same time happy», said Maestro Vladimir Teodorovich Spivakov.

The concert programme for the second day opened with a work by Johann Sebastian Bach – a suite for flute and h-moll orchestra, where the audience was introduced to the soloist Catherine Cornishina, a pupil of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía. At the concert, Ekaterina played an instrument presented to her by maestro Spivakov. The culmination of the second day of the festival was Kancheli’s Silent Prayer, in which Vladimir Spivakov recited poems and performed the solo violin.

On 14 February, the festival went beyond the capital of the region and the «Moscow Virtuosi» orchestra conducted by maestro Spivakov presented the «Piazzolla Gala» programme to the residents of Achinsk.

«I am very pleased that we are playing not only in Krasnoyarsk, but also in Achinsk», said Alexei Lundin, concertmaster of the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra. – Vladimir Spivakov’s credo is as follows: no matter where we perform – Carnegie Hall, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory or the Concert Hall in Krasnoyarsk – we must play with the same quality. Maybe even with a special feeling for our compatriots. And here, in Dmitry Hvorostovsky’s homeland, it is even more honourable.

Within the limits of festival musicians of legendary orchestra – violinist Alexey Lundin and French horn player Sergey Korobov conducted a master class for pupils from 12 Krasnoyarsk children’s musical schools. The format was unusual: young artists were offered to perform a composition, and afterwards musicians from Moscow Virtuosi gave recommendations on techniques and general advice on further improvement.

The final event of the festival was a children’s music and education programme «Around the World in 80 … for 80 minutes». That evening, Honoured Artist of Russia Evgeny Bushkov was at the conductor’s desk.

«All events of the festival were attended by more than 4000 people, a few days before the first concert there was not a single ticket left on sale. I would like to thank the General Partner of the festival, RUSAL Company, for the opportunity to introduce such outstanding artists to the residents of the Krasnoyarsk region, and also to pass the words of gratitude to the permanent partner of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Philharmonic Society – Valeria Rozanova, head of the project «All-Russian Philharmonic Seasons», said General Director of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Philharmonic Society Evgeny Stodushny.

The Vladimir Spivakov Festival and the Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra was held in Krasnoyarsk with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture.