February 19, 2025, 20:00 | St. Petersburg Philharmonia - Grand Hall
In memory of Anatoly Sobchak
Soloists: Polina Tkhai, cello
Ekaterina Petrova, soprano
Alexei Neklyudov, tenor
Conductor – Vladimir Spivakov
Gliere. Anthem of Saint Petersburg
Prokofiev. Dance of the Knights from "Romeo and Juliet"
Tchaikovsky. Nocturne for cello and orchestra
Tchaikovsky. Tatiana's Letter from"Eugene Onegin"
Tchaikovsky. Lensky's Aria from "Eugene Onegin"
Rachmaninoff. Elegy (orch. by Alexey Strelnikov)
Tchaikovsky. Waltz from "The Sleeping Beauty"
Khachaturian. Waltz from "Masquerade"
Shostakovich. Waltz from "The First Echelon"

February 19, 2000, is the date of the death of Anatoly Sobchak (1937-2000), famous Russian legist and politician, first mayor of Saint Petersburg. Commemorating each fifth anniversary of this sad event, Vladimir Spivakov and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia give a concert in the Northern capital of Russia. The coming memorial concert will feature gems of Russian classics – Tchaikovsky, Glière (The anthem to the great city from The Bronze Horseman ballet, which has become the official hymn of Saint Petersburg), Rachmaninoff, Khachaturian, Prokofiev and Shostakovich.

The Saint Petersburg Philharmonia in connection with the concert organized by the Sobchak Foundation, writes the following: 'Anatoly Sobchak and Vladimir Spivakov had been tied by a strong male friendship. Actively strengthening the role of Saint Petersburg as a cultural capital, the first mayor promoted, among others, frequent meetings of Petersburgians with the art of the world-known violinist and conductor Vladimir Spivakov. In the difficult times of his forced exile in Paris, A.Sobchak found moral support and warmth in the Spivakovs' household. The friendship of the politician and the musician had been tested by time and situation factors, and at present maestro Spivakov is paying tribute to his friend and the man whose name and deeds are an indelible part of the Russian history of the last decades.'

Vladimir Spivakov in his interviews says: 'I have a photo of Sobchak with whom we were friends. Our family was the only Russian home who received him in Paris because for me a friendship is above any tactical considerations...

… Sobchak was always eager to hear news from Moscow, and I had ways of watching Russian TV programs thanks to technically capable people from the Russian Embassy. By the way, the same people recommended me not to be too close to the Russian disgraced politician. But I well-remembered how the mayor of Saint Petersburg had met the Moscow Virtuosi at the Moscow Railway Station in the morning and attended our concert on the same day and came up to the stage with a large bouquet. I gave a sign to a musician who immediately moved forth a free chair. Anatoly Alexandrovich took a place with the orchestra. Therefore, we played an encore to him. Sobchak later often referred to this occasion. He said: “I had the feeling that I myself could take a violin and play with you”. Everything went easily and effortlessly. Anatoly Alexandrovich had something childish in him and was incorrigibly romantic... In no way do I exchange our friendship for anything.

Sobchak was a gentle, sincere person... He had done a lot to make the Soviet Leningrad a Petersburg again – a flashy, European capital... I still have his phone number in my notebook. I do not have the heart to sign it out. People do not vanish without a trace; they just go into another dimension and inspire us with a reflected light. Without doubt, Sobchak is one of them.'