Vladimir Spivakov, People's Artist of the USSR and UNESCO Artist for Peace, is celebrating his 80th birthday with two concerts in the Svetlanov Hall of the Moscow Performing Arts Center. On September 28 and 29, he will act both as a violinist and as a conductor.
On September 28, the maestro will play the priceless Antonio Stradivari violin (1736) from the State Collection of Unique Musical Instruments. The violin, bought by Prince Yusupov in the first half of the 19th century in Italy and miraculously saved in the vault of the Yusupov Palace in Petersburg, was played on in the Soviet times by David Oistrakh, Lev Zeitlin, Leonid Kogan, Valery Klimov and other famous soloists. At present, it is given to Vladimir Spivakov, who will perform Sonatas by Johannes Brahms and Cézar Franck together with pianist Denis Matsuev. The Russia-Culture TV channel will record the recital.
On September 29, Vladimir Spivakov will conduct his two acclaimed teams. In Part 1 he will share the stage with the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra while Part 2 will be given to the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia. For the concert the maestro has chosen works by Russian and foreign classics and prepared many surprises for the audience. The invited soloists are mainly artists from Vladimir Spivakov's close ring, such as world opera stars Hibla Gerzmava (soprano), Ildar Abdrazakov (basso) and pianist Denis Matsuev. The Russia-Culture TV channel will record the concert.
For those music lovers who will not be able to attend the Encore Concert on September 29 the Russia-Culture TV channel will transmit it at 22:00 on the same day. With this concert, the Moscow Performing Arts Center will open its 22nd season. Moreover, the MIPAC site is presenting a special section devoted to the maestro's jubilee, which displays playlists with video excerpts from concerts and audio recordings as well as words about Vladimir Spivakov by his friends – eminent artists and culture workers.