The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia and Vladimir Spivakov are opening the collective's new season by touring Russia. Within September 23-26 the maestro and the NPR will give concerts in the Kursk and Belgorod regions visiting Kursk, Zheleznogorsk, Gubkin and Stary Oskol. The concerts in the last three towns are part of the “Development of Regions” Project of Alisher Usmanov's “Arts, Science and Sports” Charity Foundation with the support of the “Metalinvest” Company.
Music lovers will hear the program compiled of popular masterpieces by European classics, which includes the Overture to the opera “Norma” by Vincenzo Bellini, the First Cello Concerto by Camille Saint-Saëns and the “Italian” Symphony by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartoldi.
The opera “Norma”, based on Louis-Alexandre Soumet's tragedy of the same name, was written for the Milan opera house “La Scala” and soon after the premiere in 1813 proclaimed as the most perfect sample of musical drama. Bellini considered it to be his best work, while several years later Richard Wagner praised it with admiration for being “a combination of profound realism, melodic richness and heartfelt feelings”. Saint-Saëns's Cello Concerto No.1, written in 1872 for the composer's most loved instrument, is one of the most famous works of its genre. Adam Carse, English composer, musicologist and orchestration specialist, called this opus “the only satisfactorily orchestrated cello concerto of the 19th century” where the author finely managed “light colours and reserve”. Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 “Italian” was created by the composer still under the impressions of his travels to Italy in 1829-1831. Igor Stravinsky called this bright lively score with Italian folk melodies “the epitome of elegance in music”.
The solo part in the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto will be played by Alexander Ramm, an artistic partner of the NPR and Vladimir Spivakov and one of the most sought-after Russian cellists who performs regularly with best symphony orchestras all over the world; award-winner of many competitions including the silver medal of the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2015. The famed cellist Mischa Maisky, then a Jury member, called Alexander a “wonderful player with a great future”. In 2023, Ramm took up the baton from the master and joined the Jury of the 17th Tchaikovsky Competition.
September 23, 2023 (18:00) – Zheleznogorsk, The Miners Palace
September 24, 2023 (19:00) – Kursk, The Sviridov Concert Hall
September 25, 2023 (19:00) – Gubkin, Tne “Forum” Center
September 26, 2023 (18:00) – Stary Oskol, The “Miner” Center