October, which gave us warm and sunny summer days, delighted the Old Oskoltsev and a wonderful event – the performance of the State Chamber Orchestra «Moscow Virtuosi» under the baton of maestro Vladimir Spivakov.October, which gave us warm and sunny summer days, delighted the Old Oskoltsev and a wonderful event – the performance of the State Chamber Orchestra «Moscow Virtuosi» under the baton of maestro Vladimir Spivakov.

It was this renowned ensemble that opened the concert season of the Art-OKNO Festival in the Belgorod region, established by the Alisher Usmanov Art, Science and Sport charity foundation. Together with the Moscow Virtuosi, Evgeniya Asanova, a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre’s Youth Opera Program, came on stage and conquered listeners with the timbre of her voice.

In Old Oskol, the concert was held on 18 October at the Centre for Culture and Arts at the full house, despite the fact that this was not the first time that Vladimir Spivakov has brought his team to our city thanks to the ART ONE. For many old school students, another meeting with the Moscow Virtuosi is not just a concert, but a contact with real art and classical music in a magnificent performance. The secret to the success of the chamber orchestra’s performances is, perhaps, not only in the virtuosity of the game, but also in the extensive repertoire covering works by composers from different eras, with which the ensemble tours around the world, including small towns.

— «For us, there are neither small people nor small towns», says Vladimir Spivakov.
According to the maestro, trips around Russia are invaluable for him and his team, and meetings with a wonderful audience are unique.

For almost an hour and a half, a lively dialogue between the conductor and the musicians continued in the hall of the Centre for Culture and the Arts, and magical melodies were played. The old-school musicians heard works by outstanding composers: Vivaldi, Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Grieg, Bizet and Haydn, and responded with a long ovation in gratitude. And when the orchestra performed Haydn’s «Farewell Symphony», at the end of which the musicians take turns putting out candles and leave the stage and the only violinist is left on it, there was a ringing silence in the hall for some time. The audience seems to have stopped breathing for fear of breaking the silence in which the last sounds of the violin have dissolved.

— «It’s happiness to listen to music like this», admitted Vladimir Spivakov after the concert. – Silence is important, it’s success, because usually the most important things are said in a quiet voice.

By the way, this time the Old Ringers were able not only to see Vladimir Spivakov at the conductor’s lectern, but also to enjoy Joseph Haydn’s «Serenade» performed by him, having heard the live voice of the Stradivarius violin that the maestro had brought with him. Its subtle and clear sound fascinated all lovers and admirers of classical music.

This is the third time that the ART-OKNO Festival of Arts has organised a performance by the Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra in the cities where Metalloinvest is present, for whose residents every meeting with famous musicians is a holiday.

— «I believe that what the Alisher Usmanov Foundation does is an outstanding phenomenon», said Vladimir Spivakov. – After all, he is practically the only one doing such an important and necessary job – he invites teams that have gained recognition all over the world to small towns where people also need spiritual food.

The orchestra’s musicians also gave a master class at Children’s Music School No. 5. Teachers and children were happy, and now they dream of having «Moscow Virtuosi» come to them for the summer creative school «Class from Maestro», which is also held under the auspices of the Alisher Usmanov Art, Science and Sport charity foundation.

Next year the orchestra celebrates its 40th anniversary, and the musicians and their permanent conductor will surely celebrate their anniversary with new creative discoveries and meetings with the audience. After all, all Virtuosi are not just musicians; they are people who are forever in love with music, without which, as one philosopher once said, life would be a mistake.

— «For me, life without music would definitely be a complete mistake», said Vladimir Spivakov, smiling. – Maybe life would have been a little different without me, though. You know, Mother Teresa once said wonderful words: «All we do is just a drop in the ocean. But without that drop, the ocean would be smaller».

Irina Milokhina
Photo by Valery Voronov