May 4, 2026 | Palace of International Forums “Uzbekistan” (Tashkent)
Soloist – Ekaterina Mechetina, piano
Conductor – Vladimir Spivakov
Rachmaninoff. Concerto No. 2 for piano and orchestra in C minor, Op. 18
Faure. Pavane, Op. 50
Ibert. “Paris”, symphonic suite
Ravel. Bolero
May 5, 2026 | Peoples' Friendship Square (Tashkent)
«I Love You, Life!»
Soloist – Hibla Gerzmava, soprano
Conductor – Vladimir Spivakov
On May 4 and 5 the People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Spivakov and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia will perform in Tashkent. The short tour will start with the concert at the Uzbekistan International Palace of Forums where the audience will hear Piano Concerto no.2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff and symphonic masterpieces by French composers such as Gabriel Fauré’s Pavane, Jacques Iber’s Paris Suite and Maurice Ravel’s Bolero.
The concert will feature brilliant pianist Ekaterina Mechetina, Russia’s Merited Artist and awardee of international competitions. She will be the soloist in Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto that has become the composer’s visiting card. For Ekaterina Mechetina it is the most loved opus in her repertoire which she has performed many a time with various orchestras and conductors and has also devoted her thoughtful research to it.
The works by Fauré and Ravel have in common their use of ancient dances Pavane (a slow court dance of the Renaissance era) and Bolero (a Spanish dance with a clear rhythmic design). Although Ravel wrote his music initially for ballet while Fauré took the dance as an artistic image, choreographers used both works for ballet performances, while the artful orchestration of both scores allowed them to join the golden collection of symphony music and never disappear from posters of concert halls. The program also includes Jacques Iber’s Paris suite, a witty music tour around the capital of France in six episodes.
The concert on May 5th will take place in the open air on the eve of the Memory Day. The NPR and Vladimir Spivakov will appear on the open stage in front of the Palace of Peoples’ Friendship with the program «I Love You, Life!» dedicated to the memory of victims of Fascism and the War. The soloist in the program. made to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and already presented with triumph in 14 cities of Russia and Abkhazia, will be world opera star, Peoples’ Artist of Russia Hibla Gerzmava. The program is based on songs by Soviet composers about the Great Patriotic War and classical masterworks.
Vladimir Spivakov who has been to the capital of Uzbekistan many a time has got the warmest remembrance of each meeting. «Uzbekistan is my many years’ love, and we all are happy to come here, says the maestro, I see the future of this country in the kindness of its folk, Here we sense the respect to elder people while kindness helps those who come here to not feel themselves strangers. I know that the people highly appreciate the national culture, the spiritual heritage, arts and traditions in every region are at a very high level in all directions, The great attention given in Uzbekistan to music is the evidence of care about the future of the country and of growing up a well-rounded younger generation, In Uzbekistan the audience always understands music finely and deeply.»
The tour is supported by the Foundation of Culture and Arts Development in the Republic of Uzbekistan.