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From March 9 to March 17, 2010, in the first days of the spring, Moscow became the cello capital of the world. The Second International Cello Festival named Vivacello was a great success at the Great Hall of the Conservatory. The guests of the festival had a unique opportunity to enjoy the virtuoso techniques of the best classical musicians.

It is not an overstatement to say that the festival featured the best cellists of our time: Natalia Gutman, David Geringas, Mischa Maisky, Boris Andrianov, Denis Shapovalov, Jens Peter Maintz, violist Yuri Bashmet, violinist Yulian Rakhlin, pianist Valery Grokhovsky, the Moscow Soloists chamber ensemble and others. The festival’s guest of honor – the performer of the role of the agent 007 in the worldwide famous Bondiana, the English actor sir Roger Moore, had a responsible UNICEF mission to speak at the festival.

 

The founders of the fund U-Art: You and Art Iveta and Tamaz Manasherovs were happy to support Boris Andrianov’s initiative to organize a cello festival in Moscow. The fund’s activity focuses on charitable projects in the sphere of culture. For a long time the fund U-Art: You and Art has been cooperating with the Russian Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum. This time the fund had an opportunity to organize an event in the Great Hall of the Conservatory and the School of Dramatic Art involving talented artists whose work is appreciated both by professional musicians and the wide audience. The festival opened in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory on March 9.

Alexey Rybnikov

 

 

 

The highlight of the opening of the festival was a world premiere of Alexey Rybnikov’s  concerto-symphony for viola, cello and chamber orchestra created specially for Vivacello.

This large 4-part composition was performed by Yuri Bashmet (viola), Boris Andrianov (cello) and the Moscow Soloists chamber ensemble. This concert also featured a work by Saint-Saens with the solo part performed by the wonderful Natalia Gutman.

 

The second Vivacello concert occurred at Vasiliev’s Theatre (the School of Dramatic Art) two days later, on March 12. The theme of the  concert was Cello-Bach. The program comprised of works by J.S.Bach, A.Urbaitis, Villa-Lobos and other composers who used Bach’s themes for their compositions. The concert featured such cellists as David Geringas, Jens Peter Maintz, Boris Andrianov, Tatyana Vasilieva, Denis Shapovalov, Sergey Suvorov, Yevgeny Rumyantsev, Alexander Buzlov, as well as pianists Valery Grokhovsky, sopranist Yulia Korpachyova and other artists.

 

On March 15, the festival continued at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory with a concert of the cellist Mischa Maisky. Together with his daughter Lily Maisky, a pianist, he presented a premiere of a splendid program comprising Sergey Rakhmaninov’s Russian romances and music pieces transcribed for cello and piano. These transcriptions were included in the artist’s two new albums and received wide acclaim of western and domestic critics; the artist was nominated for the Grammy award.

David Geringas, Tatyana Vasilieva, Peter Maintz and Denis Shapovalov

Mischa Maisky

The closing concert of the festival was held at the Great Hall of the Conservatory on March 17. The concert showcased as many as two UNICEF ambassadors – the famous English actor sir Roger Moore and the violinist Yulian Rakhlin. Music by Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saens and Gennady Gladkov was performed during the concert. The audience heartily welcomed the artists, especially when they performed music popular with everyone from a young age - Bremen Town Musicians melodies transcribed by Boris Andrianov for cello.

 

Standing ovations, lots of flowers and rave reviews by critics and the grateful audience were the most precious rewards for Vivacello artists and organizers. The festival was publicized in all major mass media and received high acclaim of journalists, critics and classical music lovers.  On behalf of the event’s organizers and supporters we would like to thank all friends and partners of the UNIDENT group of companies and the Cultural Charity Fund U-Art: You and Art for their interest in the festival.

Famous English actor sir Roger Moore participating in the closing concert of the festival at the Great Hall of the Conservatory.

To sum up, it is safe to say that Vivacello festival has become not only an outstanding music project but also a landmark event of the capital’s cultural life. Standing ovations, lots of flowers and rave reviews by critics and the grateful audience were the most precious rewards for Vivacello artists and organizers. The festival was publicized in all major mass media and received high acclaim of journalists, critics and classical music lovers.  On behalf of the event’s organizers and supporters we would like to thank all friends and partners of the UNIDENT group of companies and the Cultural Charity Fund U-Art: You and Art for their interest in the festival. To sum up, it is safe to say that Vivacello festival has become not only an outstanding music project but also a landmark event of the capital’s cultural life.

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