"Music Academy" in the Basilica of St. Catherine

From July 30 to August 4, the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sergei Stadler will conduct a music festival in the main Catholic church of the city. Musical Academies is a tribute to the great European tradition of performing classical music in churches and cathedrals.

The 2019 festival will be dedicated to the figure of Antonio Vivaldi. "Red Padre", the abbot composer, for a long time was a figure rather fashionable than significant, and only in the second half of the twentieth century began to reveal himself as a great musician. Musical Academies will reveal to the general public all facets of Antonio Vivaldi’s talent.

July 30, 9 p.m. Seasons

Seasons, one of the most popular works in the world, featuring Vivaldi as a virtuoso violinist, direct predecessor of the legendary Paganini. At the same time, this is a deeply religious work written in the glory of Christ, filled with symbols and signs.

August 1, 9 p.m. Gloria Magnificat

The second concert of the festival is dedicated to sacred music, which Vivaldi has an unusually large number of. The evening program included the most famous and beloved pieces by the public.

Soloists: laureates of international competitions Alina Nikolaeva (soprano) and Anastasia Meshchanova (mezzo-soprano)

August 2, 21:00. Selected fragments of operas

Although Vivaldi devoted operas to most of his life, this is the least known facet of his composing talent. A significant part of the operas has been lost; only 30 scores have reached us. The program of the third evening will feature selected instrumental and vocal excerpts from the master’s operas.

Soloists will be announced later

August 4, 16:00. Oratorio Triumphant Judith

The Music Academy is completed by one of Vivaldi’s best works, the only surviving oratorio is Triumphant Judith. By the diversity of characters and the richness of the orchestration, it is not inferior to the most famous operas of its time.

Soloists will be announced later