RUSSIAN PHILHARMONIC OF NOVOSIBIRSK – MAY 19

A world-renowned orchestra who have performed across the globe for over 60 years are set to bring a diverse programme of music to Norwich Theatre Royal.

The Russian Philharmonic of Novosibirsk will present three pieces which share richness and depth while each being very different.

Mussorgsky’s colourful and iconic Pictures At An Exhibition will head the concert on May 19. It was first composed as a tribute to the Russian artist Viktor Hartmann when Mussorgsky visited a retrospective exhibition of his work.

He wanted to capture the experience in music and ended up with an interpretation of 10 different paintings.

Each piece is different ranging from the sombre and lyrical The Old Castle through the forceful sound of Two Jews: One Rich and One Poor to the cheery The Market At Limoges. Each piece is also linked by an upbeat theme representing the composer walking through the exhibition.

Also in the programme is Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1, renowned for its romantic air and deeply expressive, rousing composition. The thunderous opening moments are incredibly well-known, and this sweeping rhythm is heard at the beginning and end of the concerto, with the middle movement featuring a slightly more soulful feel.

Completing the concert is Wagner’s Overture to The Mastersingers of Nuremberg. The composer took a break from his Ring Cycle to write it with the piece itself being slightly lighter than his other work.

Wagner realized this prelude stood alone as a piece of music away from the opera and so he adjusted it slightly so it could be performed as a solo piece.

The Russian Philharmonic of Novosibirsk were founded in 1956 by Arnold Kats who remained with them for over 50 years and he helped build their reputation as one of the country’s leading orchestras.

They have performed in many prestigious venues and festivals across Europe, Japan and China, and boast a repertoire that spans Bach to contemporary composers.

Their principal conductor and artistic director Thomas Sanderling will be conducting the Norwich Theatre Royal concert. Music was in his blood as his father was the eminent conductor Kurt Sanderling, and Thomas was appointed music director of the Halle Opera at the age of 24.
He has conducted many of the world’s finest orchestras and opera companies and has won many prizes including an ECHO KLASSIK award for a recording of works by Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky with the London Symphony Orchestra.

And the eminent Russian pianist Sergei Redkin will be the soloist for the concert. Sergei started playing the piano at the age of five before studying at the Music Lyceum in his native Krasnoyarsk a year later. He went on to learn his craft at many prestigious schools in his home country including the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory.

Since graduating two years ago, he has been an artist-in-residence at the Queen Elisabeth Chapel in Belgium, performed worldwide, and debuted with the likes of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonia Orchestra.

John Bultitude, of Norwich Theatre Royal, said: “This concert will be a fantastic opportunity to see one of Russia’s finest orchestras perform alongside a pianist who has had music in his blood from a very young age.

“It will also be a great chance to experience the diversity of Pictures At An Exhibition and be swept up with the emotion of one of Tchaikovsky’s most rousing pieces of work.”

 

Listing:

Russian Philharmonic of Novosibirsk, Sunday 19 May at 7.30pm. Tickets £10-£37.50.

To book, log onto www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call the box office on 01603 630000.