Melody Express: A Journey from the Neglinnaya to the Neva

Mikail Glinka was an outstanding Russian composer, a graduate and a silver medallist of the Noble Boarding School at St Petersburg Imperial University (1822).

The unique monographic concert programme "Melody Express: A Journey from the Neglinnaya to the Neva" will be performed as part of the "Glinka and the Golden Age of Russian Culture" Festival, organised by Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in partnership with the Russian Peace Foundation. The Artistic Director of the project is Aleksandr Bonduryansky, People’s Artist of Russia and Professor at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory.

The programme will feature works composed by Mikhail Glinka during his travels in Italy. It will include both well-known musical treasures ("Trio Pathétique " in its original scoring, the first movement of the unfinished "Viola Sonata", "Impromptu in the Form of a Gallop" based on themes of Gaetano Donizetti’s opera "L’elisir d’amore") and rarely performed compositions ("Serenade" written on themes of G. Donizetti’s "Anna Bolena", and "Brilliant Divertimento" on themes from Vincenzo Bellini’s "La sonnambula"). The performance will be accompanied by a video presentation based on archival materials, revealing the historical context of that era.

The project author and producer — Ksenia Bonduryanskaya.

On stage

• Aleksandr Bonduryansky (piano) — People’s Artist of Russia, Professor at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory
• Galina Zhukova (piano) — Associate Professor at St Petersburg University, winner of various international competitions
• Pavel Romanenko (viola) — Artistic Director and Conductor of the Moscow Orchestra "Novaya Camerata", Conductor of the Moscow Theatre "Novaya Opera", Founder of the Valentin Berlinsky Quartet
• Maria Fedorova (harp) — winner of various international competitions, Associate Professor at Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory
• Mikhail Kalashnikov (cello) — prise winner of several international competitions, Soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Cellist of the Valentin Berlinsky Quartet
• Denis Gasanov (violin), Ivan Kuznetsov (violin) — international competitions prise winners
• Natalia Tsurko (double bass) — winner of multiple international contests, Soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
• Kirill Biryukov (clarinet) — award winner of various international competitions, Soloist of the Moscow Theatre "Novaya Opera" Orchestra
• Sergei Levitsky (bassoon) — awardee of several international contests, Soloist of the Russian National Orchestra
• Artur Arzumanov (French horn) — International Competitions Laureate, Soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
• Valentin Berlinsky Quartet — prise winner of various international contests

Concert programme

• "Trio Pathétique" for clarinet, bassoon and piano. Performed by Aleksandr Bonduryansky (piano), Kirill Biryukov (clarinet), Sergei Levitsky (bassoon)
• "Impromptu in the Form of a Gallop" for piano (four hands) on the theme from "Barcarolle" in Gaetano Donizetti’s opera "L’elisir d’amore". Performed by Galina Zhukova (piano), Aleksandr Bonduryansky (piano)
• "Serenade" on themes from Donizetti’s Opera "Anna Bolena" for piano, harp bassoon, French horn, viola, cello and double bass. Performed by: Aleksandr Bonduryansky (piano), Maria Fedorova (harp), Sergei Levitsky (bassoon), Artur Arzumanov (French horn), Pavel Romanenko (viola), Mikhail Kalashnikov (cello), Rostislav Yakovlev (double bass)
• "Viola Sonata" for viola and piano. Performed by Pavel Romanenko (viola), Aleksandr Bonduryansky (piano)
• "Brilliant Divertimento" on themes from Vincenzo Bellini’s "La sonnambula" for piano, two violins, viola, cello and double bass. Performed by Aleksandr Bonduryansky (piano), Valentin Berlinsky Quartet: Denis Gasanov (violin), Fyodor Kalashnikov (violin), Pavel Romanenko (viola), Mikhail Kalashnikov (cello), Rostislav Yakovlev (double bass)

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