Russian Seasons in Germany. German Classics in Russia
The Russian Seasons in Germany. German Classics in Russia project, a major musical and educational initiative supported by Gazprom and Germany’s VNG Verbundnetz Gas, was implemented over 2016.
The project was conducted under the auspices of the Russian Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Russia in Germany, and the Embassy of Germany in Russia.
In addition to the Rachmaninov Trio, the project featured:
- Anton Kulapov (viola), Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, soloist of the Virtuosos of Moscow ensemble;
- Sergey Petrov (clarinet), principal clarinet of Russia’s Bolshoi Theater Orchestra;
- Alexander Lemeshev (glass harmonica);
- Frieder Berthold (cello, Germany);
- Ursula Langmayr (soprano singer, Austria).
The Russian part of the project started on May 28 and ended on June 6, 2016.
Concerts and master classes took place in the conservatories of Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Astrakhan, and Saratov. The program included vocal and chamber pieces by Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms.
“Ursula Langmayr is a repeat participant in our projects,” says pianist Viktor Yampolsky, leader of the Rachmaninov Trio. “This wonderful singer specializes in oratorios and chamber music, in which she is one of the most sought-after sopranos. It is extremely fortunate for students, tutors, and music admirers in Russian regions to meet such wonderful musicians who come to share their expertise.”
In the autumn of 2016, a series of concerts was held for German admirers of chamber music in such cities as Berlin, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hagen, and Wiesbaden. The events hosted by Germany’s concert halls featured both widely known and rarely performed pieces by outstanding Russian composers – Glinka, Arensky, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovich.
A chamber concert involving the Rachmaninov Trio and Alexander Lemeshev, a famous glass harmonica (crystallophone) player from St. Petersburg, took place at the White Hall of the Sheremetev Palace in St. Petersburg on December 1, 2016. The musicians played works by Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, and Mendelssohn.
On December 15, 2016, classical music enthusiasts enjoyed the final concert in the series hosted by the Vrubel’s Hall of the Tretyakov State Gallery, which included chamber music masterpieces by Glinka, Beethoven, and Ponchielli and featured the Rachmaninov Trio and Sergey Petrov, the principal clarinet of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra.
