Vladimir Spivakov in Togliatti: «People abroad think that there is nothing else here but Moscow and St. Petersburg»
The maestro and his orchestra «Moscow Virtuosi» visited the city at the invitation of the Togliatti Philharmonic.
15 years ago Vladimir Spivakov took part in the creation of the Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Volga region. Speaking about it before the performance, which took place on 1 February 2017, the head of «Virtuosos» called it an ornament of the city and, quoting academician Andrey Sakharov, urged musicians «to go in the given direction».
– And in general, the traditions were very good here, many young musicians came to the festival in Kolmar and, I must say, they made a huge impression.
The maestro also added that people abroad often think that there is nothing else in Russia besides Moscow and St. Petersburg, and there are amazingly talented children in the most remote parts of the country, and they need to be «shown for sure».
As for the «leak» of these most talented musicians abroad, Vladimir Spivakov is convinced that many, while living «there», still remain Russian.
– «Russian culture is strong, very strong, and it has influenced many many cultures», said Spivakov. – And the most performing composers now are Russians. These are, of course, first and foremost Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Schnittke, Shchedrin, Sofia Gubaidulina, Arvo Pärt – all this is our heritage.
At the concert, the maestro and Virtuosos «washed away the dust of everyday life from the soul» listeners with works by J. Haydn, E. Grieg, G. Puccini, L. Deliba, A. Piazzolla, A. Schnittke. The soloists were Ksenia Nesterenko (soprano), laureate of international competitions and winner of the Big Opera 2016 project at the Kultura shopping mall, as well as soloists from the Moscow Virtuosi Orchestra, Honoured Artist of Kabardino-Balkarsky
As usual, the hall was overcrowded and the audience was even placed on stage for the artists (traditionally these places are reserved for students and teachers of the city’s music schools). The concert began with Alfred Schnittke’s «Ancient Style Suite». This example of brilliant stylisation can well be taken for authentic Baroque music. The first section of Josef Haydn’s Symphony No. 85 continued. Six symphonies, called «The Paris Symphonies», were commissioned by Haydn in 1784 by the Parisian Masonic Lodge «Olympique». Queen Marie Antoinette of France attended the concert, where they were first performed. One of the symphonies that she most liked was named after her: «La Reine» – The Queen.
The rising star of classical vocals, who conquered the jury of the Big Opera project of the Kultura TV channel, and the owner of the magical soprano Ksenia Nesterenko, performed vocal masterpieces loved by the audience and included in the repertoire of the world’s greatest singers: two famous arias by Giacomo Puccini – aria Lauretta from the opera Gianni Skikki and Waltz Musetta from the opera Boheme, as well as the world’s most famous Spanish bolero – the Spanish Song by Leo Deliba.
Completed the programme of the evening of the suite «Story of the Tango» for violin and orchestra in four parts of the great Astor Piazzolla. Soloists of the chamber orchestra «Moscow Virtuosi» performed in each of the parts: «1900 – Brothel» (soloist – Vitaly Handras), «1930 – Cafe» (soloist – Alexey Lundin), «1960 – Night Club», (soloist – Evgeny Shulkov), «Meditango» (soloist – Alexey Strelnikov).
The encore featured pearls from the works of Brahms and Gluck, met with enthusiasm and enthusiasm by the public.
Lado Miranya