Moscow Chamber Orchestra

Ruth Seaton James Centre, February 14, 15 at 8 p.m.

A world famous Russian orchestra performs tonight at the Ruth Seaton James Centre as part of the Bermuda Festival programme.

The Moscow Chamber Orchestra was created in 1956 by renowned conductor and violist Rudolph Barshai. The MCO, known in Russia as the Russian State Academic Chamber Orchestra, has inspired many important Russian composers, notably Dmitri Shostakovich.

Each year, the MCO performs in more than 80 concerts abroad, as well as 40 in its homeland. Renowned soloists who have toured with the orchestra include James Galway, Mstilav Rostropovich and Vladimir Spivakov.

In 1991, the appointment of the American pianist and conductor Constantine Orbelian as Music Director of the MCO brought the orchestra into a new era of international activity and acclaim. Under Mr. Orbelian's leadership, the orchestra continues to capture the imagination and ears of audiences, living up to its reputation as one of the best chamber orchestras in the world.

The MCO performed at the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the United Nations in San Francisco and has toured extensively in Europe, South Africa, South America and the Far East.

"This must be the greatest chamber orchestra in the world," said composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

The orchestra has embarked on a series of recordings for Delos, including a number of programmes featuring rarely-recorded works of Shostakovich .

Music critics have called the recording "luminous".

A critic from The Daily Telegraph, wrote: "The musicians channel all of their emotion into the music and give performances of such passion and musicality... producing music-making of both subtlety and verve."

The MCO is known to international audiences as an ensemble of the highest artistic and professional standard.

"What we heard was the peak of perfection ... our expectations were so far exceeded that one was left open-mouthed in admiration," wrote a critic of The New York Times.