Hailed by some critics as the greatest ensemble of its type in the world, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra returns to the Bermuda Festival stage tomorrow evening for the first of two performances at City Hall theatre.

Under the direction of famed pianist and conductor Constantine Orbelian, the orchestra will perform an uplifting and eclectic mix of great works.

Admired by music aficionados for its unequalled technical excellence, the orchestra is considered a Russian national treasure. Mr. Orbelian, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, has enjoyed a glittering career as both a pianist and conductor, before being awarded the prestigious title, ‘Honoured Artist of Russia’ by President Putin two years ago.

Tomorrow’s programme will include orchestral works by Grieg and Tchaikovsky, while violin soloist Alexander Sitkovetsky will play works by Vitaly and Paganini, and Italian saxophonist Federico Mondelici will be the soloist in Glazunov’s Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra.

Friday’s programme will feature orchestral works by Mozart and Piazzolla. Pianist Andrei Gugnin and trumpeter Vlad Lavrik will be the soloists in a work by Shostakovich, while Mr. Gugnin will team with Mr. Mondelici in ‘Four Pictures from New York’ by Roberto Molinelli.

Mr. Mondelci is regarded as one of the leading players of his generation, who continues his increasingly famous collaboration with the orchestra, which is one of the busiest and most-travelled top-level ensembles around.

Violin soloist Mr. Sitkovetsky already enjoys a link with the Bermuda Festival, having been a former student at the Yehudi Menuhin School, and also taken master classes with the late virtuoso who, with the late Sir Edwin Leather and current chairman John Ellison, founded the Festival. Following their first meeting in Moscow in 1999, Lord Menuhin became a great inspiration for the violinist, who was born in Moscow in 1983, and supported him through his school years.

Together they performed Bach’s ‘Double Violin Concerto’ in France and Belgium, as well as Bartok’s ‘Duos’ at St. James’ Palace in London.

In 1996, the violinist played Mendelssohn’s ‘Violin Concerto’ in Budapest with Lord Menuhin conducting.

Today, Mr. Sitkovetsky performs at many international festivals, and has been a featured soloist at a host of famous European venues to great acclaim.

He has also played at Buckingham Palace before the Queen and members of the Royal Family, and this year’s schedule includes performing in Bangkok, Thailand as part of the King’s 60th birthday celebrations.

The violinist is also a recording artist on the Angel Records label, as well as an accomplished composer whose orchestral ballet scores were premiered in London. Undoubtedly, an evening spent in the Moscow Chamber Orchestra’s company will live long in the lives of local audiences.

Performances tomorrow and Friday evening begin at 8 p.m.

[box] On Saturday, February 24 Russian pianist Andrei Gugnin will give a solo recital, also at City Hall theatre at 8 p.m.

Winner of the music category in the All-Russian Literary-Artistic Competition, 19-year-old Mr. Gugnin has begun his journey towards international stardom. He began studying at age seven, and initially graduated from the Moscow Conservatory Music School for specially gifted children. Since then he has continued his studies with some of the world’s best teachers. Mr. Gugnin performs with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, but his own recital on Saturday evening will give his Bermudian audiences a rare opportunity to witness the talent of a genius in the making.

[bul]For ticket/further information on all events see the Bermuda Calendar.

Russian treasure in Bermuda