Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Philharmonic (Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra) |

Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

The Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Philharmonic rightfully occupies one of the leading places in the world symphony art. The team was created in 1951 under the All-Union Radio Committee, and in 1953 joined the staff of the Moscow Philharmonic.

Over the past decades, the orchestra has given more than 6000 concerts in the best halls of the world and at prestigious festivals. The best domestic and many great foreign conductors stood behind the panel of the ensemble, including G. Abendroth, K. Sanderling, A. Kluitens, F. Konvichny, L. Maazel, I. Markevich, B. Britten, Z. Mehta, Sh. Munsch, K. Penderecki, M. Jansons, K. Zecchi. In 1962, during his visit to Moscow, Igor Stravinsky conducted the orchestra.

In different years, almost all the major soloists of the second half of the XNUMXth – early XNUMXst centuries performed with the orchestra: A. Rubinstein, I. Stern, I. Menuhin, G. Gould, M. Pollini, A. Benedetti Michelangeli, S. Richter, E. Gilels, D. Oistrakh, L. Kogan, M. Rostropovich, R. Kerer, N. Shtarkman, V. Krainev, N. Petrov, V. Tretyakov, Yu. Bashmet, E. Virsaladze, D. Matsuev, N. Lugansky, B. Berezovsky, M. Vengerov, N. Gutman, A. Knyazev and dozens of other stars of world performance.

The team has recorded more than 300 records and CDs, many of which have received the highest international awards.

The first director of the orchestra (from 1951 to 1957) was the outstanding opera and symphony conductor Samuil Samosud. In 1957-1959, the team was headed by Natan Rakhlin, who strengthened the team’s fame as one of the best in the USSR. At the I International Tchaikovsky Competition (1958), the orchestra under the direction of K. Kondrashin became an accomplice to Van Clyburn’s triumphant performance. In 1960, the orchestra was the first of the domestic ensembles to tour the United States.

For 16 years (from 1960 to 1976) the orchestra was led by Kirill Kondrashin. During these years, in addition to outstanding performances of classical music, and especially Mahler’s symphonies, there were premieres of many works by D. Shostakovich, G. Sviridov, A. Khachaturian, D. Kabalevsky, M. Weinberg and other composers. In 1973, the orchestra was awarded the title of “academic”.

In 1976-1990 the orchestra was led by Dmitry Kitayenko, in 1991-1996 by Vasily Sinaisky, in 1996-1998 by Mark Ermler. Each of them has contributed to the history of the orchestra, to its performing style and repertoire.

In 1998 the orchestra was headed by People’s Artist of the USSR Yuri Simonov. With his arrival, a new stage in the history of the orchestra began. A year later, the press noted: “Such orchestral music has not sounded in this hall for a long time – picturesquely visible, strictly adjusted dramaturgically, saturated with the finest shades of feelings … The famous orchestra appeared transformed, sensitively perceiving every movement of Yuri Simonov.”

Under the direction of maestro Simonov, the orchestra regained world fame. The geography of the tour stretches from the UK to Japan. It has become a tradition for the orchestra to perform in Russian cities as part of the All-Russian Philharmonic Seasons program, and to participate in various festivals and competitions. In 2007, the orchestra received a grant from the Government of the Russian Federation, and in 2013, a grant from the President of the Russian Federation.

One of the most sought-after projects of the group was the cycle of children’s concerts “Tales with an Orchestra” with the participation of Russian theater and film stars, which takes place not only in the Moscow Philharmonic, but also in many cities of Russia. It was for this project that Yuri Simonov was awarded the Moscow Mayor’s Prize in Literature and Art in 2008.

In 2010, in the rating of the national all-Russian newspaper “Musical Review”, Yuri Simonov and the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Philharmonic won in the nomination “Conductor and Orchestra”. In 2011, the orchestra received a Letter of Acknowledgment from the President of the Russian Federation D. A. Medvedev for his great contribution to the development of Russian musical art and the creative successes achieved.

In the 2014/15 season, pianists Denis Matsuev, Boris Berezovsky, Ekaterina Mechetina, Miroslav Kultyshev, violinist Nikita Borisoglebsky, cellists Sergei Roldugin, Alexander Knyazev, singers Anna Aglatova and Rodion Pogosov will perform with the orchestra and Maestro Simonov. Conductor will be Alexander Lazarev, Vladimir Ponkin, Sergey Roldugin, Vasily Petrenko, Evgeny Bushkov, Marco Zambelli (Italy), Conrad van Alphen (Netherlands), Charles Olivieri-Monroe (Czech Republic), Fabio Mastrangelo (Italy-Russia), Stanislav Kochanovsky , Igor Manasherov, Dimitris Botinis. Soloists will perform with them: Alexander Akimov, Simone Albergini (Italy), Sergey Antonov, Alexander Buzlov, Mark Bushkov (Belgium), Alexei Volodin, Alexei Kudryashov, Pavel Milyukov, Keith Aldrich (USA), Ivan Pochekin, Diego Silva (Mexico), Yuri Favorin, Alexei Chernov, Konstantin Shushakov, Ermonela Yaho (Albania) and many others.

One of the priorities of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra is work with the younger generation. The team often performs with soloists who are just starting their career. In the summer of 2013 and 2014, the orchestra participated in international master classes for young conductors conducted by maestro Y. Simonov and the Moscow Philharmonic. In December 2014, he will again accompany the participants of the XV International Television Competition for Young Musicians “The Nutcracker”.

The orchestra and maestro Simonov will also perform in Vologda, Cherepovets, Tver and several Spanish cities.

Source: Moscow Philharmonic website