Concerts-portraits of new stars of the Russian performing school

In January 2022, on the stage of the White Hall of the Pushkin Museum im. A. S. Pushkin for the second time a series of concerts-portraits of young stars will take place. Bright and charismatic performers of the new generation will present various and exquisite programs from the works of P. I. Tchaikovsky, M. P. Mussorgsky, A. N. Skryabin, S. V. Rachmaninov, N. K. Medtner, I. F. Stravinsky, S. S. Prokofiev, A. Pärt, as well as L. van Beethoven, L. Janacek and A. Webern.

The heroes of the "Stayers II" project play different instruments, each of them has their own unforgettable way to the stage. The names of young Russian musicians have appeared in the programs of international festivals and competitions relatively recently, but their creative individuality and virtuosity have helped to take a strong position among the favorites and win the hearts of listeners. The youngest participants in the concerts - pianists Varvara Kutuzova and Yamaha artist Alexander Malofeev - despite the titles and performances with famous orchestras and conductors that have become events, are still students.

Varvara Kutuzova is a laureate of all-Russian and international music competitions, a participant in the international festivals "Stars on Baikal" (Irkutsk), the Annecy Classical Music Festival (France), the Antalya International Piano Music Festival (Turkey), ArtDialog (Switzerland), the Academy of Soloists of the Verbier Festival (Switzerland) and other resonant events in the world of music. As a soloist, she performs with leading orchestras: the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, the Moscow Virtuosos State Chamber Orchestra, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and many others. Currently, Varvara Kutuzova actively gives concerts in the largest halls of the world, including the Big, Small and Rachmaninov halls of the Moscow State Conservatory. P. I. Tchaikovsky, State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Russia,Moscow International House of Music, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Esperanza Iris Theater in Tabasco, Millennium Park in Chicago, headquarters of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing.

One of the brightest pianists of his generation, Yamaha artist Alexander Malofeev is the winner of the 1st prize and the Gold Medal of the 8th International Tchaikovsky International Youth Competition in Moscow (2014) and the Grand Prix of the 1st International Grand Piano Competition for young pianists (2016). Alexander performs with the world’s leading orchestras, including the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Orchestra of the National Academy of Santa Cecilia, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as with many other well-known ensembles under the baton of outstanding conductors. The pianist actively tours, giving clavirabends in the largest halls of the world and taking part in the most prestigious music festivals,such as La Folle Journée de Nantes and the festival in La Roque d’Antheron (France), "Stars of the White Nights" (St. Petersburg), "Stars on Baikal" (Irkutsk) and many others.

Two other participants — cellist Anastasia Kobekina and violinist Daniil Kogan — have managed to complete the course of “performing studies” and are confidently continuing their ascent to the heights of mastery. A sign of unconditional recognition of the outstanding talent of young musicians was the provision of unique instruments by famous Italian masters: a cello by Giovanni Battista Guadanini of 1743 and a violin by Pietro Guarneri of 1737.

Laureate of the XVI International Tchaikovsky Competition Anastasia Kobekina has performed with many well-known orchestras, including the Moscow Virtuosos, Kremerata Baltica, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra and others. This season, the performer will make her debut as a soloist with one of the oldest in the UK, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Anastasia regularly takes part in chamber ensembles with such masters as Vladimir Spivakov, Gidon Kremer, Yuri Bashmet, Denis Matsuev, Andras Schiff.

Laureate of international competitions Daniil Kogan was born into a family of famous musicians. The grandson of the great violinists Leonid Kogan and Elizaveta Gilels, while still at school, was a scholarship holder and participant in the concert programs of the Vladimir Spivakov foundations, New Names, Russian Performing Arts. Daniil gives many concerts in Russia and abroad, is a laureate of the Karol Lipinski competition (Torun, Poland), the AI Yampolsky competition (Moscow) and the famous competition named after Marguerite Long and Jacques Thibaud (Paris). The musician performed with well-known orchestras under the baton of famous conductors - Mark Gorenstein, Pavel Kogan, Hobart Earl, Dmitry Yablonsky, played in an ensemble with pianists Pavel Nersesyan, Lucas Debargue, Lukas Genyushas, Philip Kopachevsky, with violinists Alena Baeva, Boris Belkin, Dmitry Sitkovetsky,cellist Henri Demarquette and other musicians. The talented violinist is a regular participant in the international festivals Summit Music Festival (USA), Niagara Music Festival (Canada), Sayowe (Thailand), Nancyphonies (France), Chigi Academy of Music Festival in Siena (Italy) and others. In 2019, Daniil Kogan improved his skills at the Academy of Soloists of the Verbier Festival (Switzerland).

The ensemble with Daniil Kogan and Anastasia Kobekina will feature brilliant pianists who also successfully perform as soloists Oleg Khudyakov and Georgy Chaidze.

A large concert grand piano Yamaha CFX, provided by the festival’s partner, Yamaha Music, will sound on stage.

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

January 18
Anastasia Kobekina (cello)
Georgy Chaidze (piano)

Part I
Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971)
Italian Suite from music to the ballet Pulcinella (1920) for cello and piano (1932)
1. Introduzione: Allegro moderato
2. Serenata: Largetto
3. Aria: Allegro alla breve
4. Tarantella: Vivace
5. Minuetto (Moderato) a Finale (Molto vivace)

Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)
Sonata for cello and piano, op. 119 C-dur (1949)
I. Andante grave
II. Modera
III. Allegro ma non troppo

Part II
Vladimir Kobekin (b. 1947)
Urban romance for cello and piano (2015)

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
Sonata for cello and piano, op. 19 g-moll (1901)
I. Lento. Allegro moderato
II. Allegretto Scherzando
III. Andante
IV. Allegro mosso

January 23
Alexander Malofeev (piano)

Part I
Nikolai Medtner (1879–1951)
Two fairy tales for piano, op. 48 (1925)
1. Fairy Tale Dance (C major)
2. Fairy Tale of the Elves (g minor)

"Forgotten Motives" for piano, op. 38 (1916–1922)
1. “Remembrance Sonata” No. 10 (a-moll)
2. “Graceful Dance”
3. “Celebration Dance”
4. “Song on the River”
5. “Country Dance”
6. “Evening Song”
7. “Forest dance”
8. “Like a memory”

Part II
Leoš Janáček (1854–1928)
Piano Sonata "From the Street" (IX 1905), JW 8/19 es-moll
I. "Premonition": Con moto
II. "Death": Adagio

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
Piano Sonata No. 1, op. 28 in d-moll (1907)
I. Allegro moderato
II. Lento
III. Allegro molto

January 26
Varvara Kutuzova (piano)

Part I
Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881)
Fantasy for symphony orchestra Night on Bald Mountain (1867)
Transcription for piano by Konstantin Chernov (1926)

Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Concert Suite from The Nutcracker (1892)
Piano transcription by Mikhail Pletnev (1978)

II part
Alexander Scriabin (1872–1915)
Piano Sonata No. 5, op. 53 in f minor (1907)
Allegro: Impetuoso — Constravaganza — Languido — Presto con allegrezza

Nikolai Medtner (1879–1951)
Four Tales for pianoforte, op. 26 (1910–1912)
1. Allegretto frescamente (Es-dur)
2. Molto vivace (Es-dur)
3. Narrante a piacere (f-moll)
4. Sostenuto (fis-moll)

Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)
Piano Sonata No. 3 (“From Old Notebooks”), op. 28 a minor (1917)
Allegro tempestoso

January 30
Daniil Kogan (violin)
Oleg Khudyakov (piano)

Part I
Anton Webern (1883–1945)
Four pieces for violin and piano, op. 7 (1910–1914)
1. Sehr Langsam
2. Rasch
3. Sehr Langsam
4. Bewegt

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 9 ("Kreutzer"), op. 47 A-dur (1802-1803)
I. Adagio sostenuto - Presto
II. Andante con Variazioni I – IV
III. Finale — Presto

Part II
Arvo Pärt (b.1935)
Spiegel im Spiegel (Mirror in the Mirror) for violin and piano (1978)

Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1, op. 80 f minor (1938–1946)
I. Andante assai
II. Allegro brusco
III. Andante
IV. Allegrissimo