Anniversary of Sergei Rachmaninov:
from Yakutsk to Kaliningrad

VELIKIY NOVGOROD. In the ancient city in northwestern Russia, the Rachmaninov Classical Music Festival is taking place.

April 1 marks the 145th anniversary of the birth of Sergei Rachmaninov. March 28 is the 75th anniversary of his death. Events dedicated to the anniversary of the great Russian composer have been held in many cities of Russia since January.

January 17 in Yakutsk in the crowded hall of the Opera House. Omolloon sounded immensely beloved by the public 2nd and 3rd concerts for piano and orchestra. The concert was attended by foreign guests: German pianist Ernst Nolting Hauf, conductor No Tae Chola from South Korea, as well as Maria Harcel from St. Petersburg. And on January 24, the Children’s Art School No. 1 took the baton: the best choral works of the hero of the anniversary were performed by the male and female parts of the Symphony Choir of the local philharmonic society accompanied by the Symphonica ARTica orchestra.

On the same day, the Academic Chapel of St. Petersburg, led by Sergei Fedoseyev, performed a work related to the spiritual and musical heritage of Rachmaninoff, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom, at a holy concert. The composer was a big fan of spiritual songs, often attended divine services at the Androniev Monastery on Taganka. He perceived the temple not only as a place to meet God and pray to him, but also as the quintessence of various types of art: music, painting, architecture. The work, created with joy and enthusiasm, was perceived by his contemporaries ambiguously in contrast to the All-Night Vigil. Critical remarks sounded mainly from representatives of the clergy. The music, in their opinion, was too beautiful, alien to the church spirit, without a clear religious conviction. The reaction of the secular public was different. The musicologist Alexander Ossovsky, who attended the dress rehearsal and premiere in 1910, spoke very warmly about the Liturgy, spoke of the strong impression made by her, and the inspired expression on the faces of the audience. The reaction of the audience after 108 years was equally enthusiastic. A few days later, in the concert hall of the State Academic Capella, Rachmaninoff evening will take place again. The program includes a piano concerto and opera Aleko, written by a young composer in just 17 days.

The graduate work of the 19-year-old graduate of the Moscow Conservatory received the most flattering reviews of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, after which he was immediately included in the repertoire of the Bolshoi Theater. Work on the title part in this opera laid the foundation for the friendship and creative cooperation of two prominent musicians: Chaliapin and Rachmaninov. Soon lovers of classical music will get acquainted with yet another interpretation of this masterpiece in Helikon-Opera. The rehearsal period is in full swing, the premiere is scheduled for June.

In early February, the Gnesins Moscow Academy hosted the I International Rachmaninov Competition for Young Pianists, which opened up many new bright names. The laureates of the 1st prize in different age categories were Russian musicians Elizabeth, Sukhoparova, Sosnin Roman, Egorov Mikhail, Chapkin Ivan, Posiker Alexander, Tretyakov Daniil, Potemkin Aksinya, Asaka Miyoshi from Japan, Yan Jin and Heral Qi from Of China.

Rakhmaninov’s evenings took place or are about to take place in Magnitogorsk, Penza, Astrakhan, Kislovodsk, Kaluga, Volgograd, Novosibirsk, Kaliningrad. Residents of Veliky Novgorod also honor their great countryman, a native of the Starorussky district of Novgorod Province. Since March 17, the X memorial festival of classical music has been held here. Part of the program is the International Competition for Young Pianists, in which future stars from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan take part.

Elena Tanakova © Gallerix.ru