February 7, 2025 | Svetlanov Hall of the Moscow International Performing Arts Center
Soloist – Vadim Rudenko, piano
Conductor – Ivan Nikiforchin
Gavrilin. Suite from the ballet "Anyuta"
Tsfasman. Suite for piano and orchestra
Sviridov. "The Blizzard" - musical illustrations to a Pushkin story
The NPR's new program in the Moscow Performing Arts Center will present the charismatic conductor Ivan Nikiforchin who made his debut with the orchestra just two years ago. In the current season the talented disciple and assistant of Valery Polyansky, awardee of international competitions (including that named after Rachmaninoff) has headed the Moscow State Academic Symphony Orchestra, one of the capital's biggest collectives. At the same time, the young maestro continues actively working with other leading Russian orchestras and perform with his Academy of Russian Music Capella. Nikiforchin has also invited to play in his NPR's February concert the world-known pianist, winner of international contests Vadim Rudenko for whom it will be the first playing with Vladimir Spivakov's orchestra.
At the threshold of his 30 years birthday, Ivan Nikiforchin has proved to be a consummate master in his profession and an authority in a specific repertoire due to his artistic successes acclaimed by professionals. The musician is particularly keen in everything connected with the Russian music of the 20th-21th centuries, including authors who are referred to the second or even third order of significance, and rarely performed at present works by such classics as Shostakovich or Myaskovsky. According to his own words, Nikiforchin builds each concert so as to make it “swanky or exceptional”. Such have been his concerts from the “Great Pages of Russian Music of the 20th Century” cycle with the Capella at the Moscow Performing Arts Center. In all this, the young conductor sees his enlightening mission.
'Ivan Nikiforchin stormed into the great music several years ago and did it masterly, - composer Yury Abdokov says. - 'After an almost fifty years' break it was Nikiforchin who renewed the tradition of performing exciting chamber orchestra scores by Myaskovsky, Weinberg, Prokofiev, Peyko, Galynin, Bunin, Popov, almost all chamber orchestra arrangements by Barshai... The Complete Works for Strings by Herman Galynin recorded by Nikiforchin with his orchestra is really a great achievement.'
Being true to his predilection in music, Ivan Nikiforchin will perform with the NPR works by three great composers of the 20th century, namely Alexander Tsfasman (a Russian Gershwin, one of the idols of Soviet Jazz), Georgy Sviridov (the author of the immortal music illustrations to Pushkin's “The Blizzard”) and Valery Gavrilin most famous for his “Anyuta” ballet set to Chekhov's short story. Gavrilin and Sviridov, despite the difference in age, were close friends, and their correspondence speaks of their mutual respect and deep spiritual kinship. 'You are the only one who makes me work... Of all the music, I believe only in yours as I see the world's salvation in it, - owned Gavrilin to Sviridov and Sviridov answered: 'I find you a man close to me by blood and soul, and by the sense of working.'