Kamerata of Kazakhstan
Artistic director/violin Gaukhar Murzabekova
26 November 2007, St. John’s Smith Square, London
A concert by one of the leading chamber orchestras of Central Asia and its founder and artistic director, violinist Gaukhar Murzabekova. The performance took place in celebration of the National Day of Kazakhstan. The programme of classical and contemporary music from Kazakhstan and around the world included:

Programme: Part I - Quartet No.1, Part 1 by G. Zhubanova, Kyui for Violin and Chamber Orchestra (instrumental for dombra) by M. Sagatov with a solo by Kalamkas Dzhumabaeva, Konzertstück by T. Kazhgaliev, Poem for Cello and Chamber Orchestra by Kumusbekov with a solo by Lyazzat Abdullina, Zharys (Struggle) by G. Uzenbayeva, Kozimnin Karasy, a Kazakh song translated as ‘You are the apple of my eye’ by Abai, Choral on a theme from an opera by Abai, K. Shildebayev, Kazakh in Europe by A. Serkebayev, Aitym Salem Kalamkas (‘Greetings to you, thin-brown girl’) by Abai, Shalkyma (‘Horse Race’) by A. Serkebayev. Part II - Kara-Kemer for Viola and Orchestra by K. Shildebayev, Sextet Souvenir de Florence by P. Tchaikovsky, Sonata for Violin and Chamber Orchestra by A. Schnittke.

Supported by the British-Kazakh Society and Shell

   
 
 
Colleen Lee, piano
24 October 2007, Cadogan Hall, London
27 October 2007, Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland
29 October 2007, Strathclyde Suite, Glasgow
31 October 2007, The Sage, Newcastle
Recitals by the award winning Hong Kong pianist Colleen Lee and also featuring soprano Catherine Chan and clarinettist David Wong to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty to China.

Programme: Brahms’ Klavierstücke Op. 118, Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No. 2, Op.14, Shubert’s Der Hirt auf dem Felsen D.965 (with soprano Catherine Chan and clarinettist David Wong), Doming Lam’s Uncle Suite, Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit and Chopin’s Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante.

Organised on behalf of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in London. (insert logos of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office and Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region)

Deep Purple star Jon Lord, former keyboard player in the rock band, wrote the Durham Concerto to celebrate Durham University's 175th anniversary. It was performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Jon Lord playing the Hammond Organ solo piece.

The 45-minute Concerto contained influences from jazz, ragtime, rock, and even Northumbrian folk music, including an old miners' lament. It consisted of six movements, arranged into three parts: Morning, Afternoon and Evening. Morning describes the Cathedral at dawn and then the town coming to life. Afternoon starts with a movement representing the historic event where monks carried St Cuthbert's body from Lindisfarne, and concludes as the composer contemplates the wonderful view from Prebends Bridge. The last section, Evening, captures the high spirits of a student dance and a Miner's Gala, and ends with an imposing, but uplifting, movement in praise of the Cathedral.

Soloists included acclaimed Northumbrian Pipe player, Kathryn Tickell, with Ruth Palmer, who won Young British Classical Performer at the 2007 Classical Brit Awards, on violin and Matthew Barley on cello.

   
 
 
The Durham Concerto Première
20 October 2007, Durham Cathedral
Deep Purple star Jon Lord, former keyboard player in the rock band, wrote the Durham Concerto to celebrate Durham University's 175th anniversary. It was performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with Jon Lord playing the Hammond Organ solo piece.

The 45-minute Concerto contained influences from jazz, ragtime, rock, and even Northumbrian folk music, including an old miners' lament. It consisted of six movements, arranged into three parts: Morning, Afternoon and Evening. Morning describes the Cathedral at dawn and then the town coming to life. Afternoon starts with a movement representing the historic event where monks carried St Cuthbert's body from Lindisfarne, and concludes as the composer contemplates the wonderful view from Prebends Bridge. The last section, Evening, captures the high spirits of a student dance and a Miner's Gala, and ends with an imposing, but uplifting, movement in praise of the Cathedral.

Soloists included acclaimed Northumbrian Pipe player, Kathryn Tickell, with Ruth Palmer, who won Young British Classical Performer at the 2007 Classical Brit Awards, on violin and Matthew Barley on cello.

   
 
 

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

25 September 2007, St. Petersburg State Academic Capella Hall
27 September 2007, Chamber Hall of the Moscow International House of Music, Moscow
Concerts by the highly acclaimed and much travelled Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra conducted by its artistic director Yan Huichang. The orchestra is deeply rooted in the Chinese cultural heritage. Its performance format and repertoire include both traditional Chinese music and contemporary full-scale works. It also explores new frontiers in music through commissioning new works of various types and styles, and over the years, has commissioned more than 1,700 original compositions and arrangements. The orchestra currently has 85 musicians who perform in the four sections comprising bowed-strings, plucked-strings, wind and percussion instruments. Traditional as well as improved Chinese instruments are incorporated into the orchestra.

The programme included works such as In the Deep of the Night a tune from the Peking Opera arranged by Li Minxiong, The Flying Partridges an ancient melody arranged by Zhao Songting and the folk melody Worship of the Phoenix arranged by Guo Yazhi.

This was the orchestra’s first visit to these most prestigious of Russian venues and celebrated the 10th anniversary of the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty to China.

Organised on behalf of the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in London and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

   
 
 
The 1st Cyprus-Russia Gala Concert and Dinner
7 September 2007, The Presidential Palace, Nicosia, Cyprus
The first event bringing together Cypriot and Russian culture took place under the High Patronage of the First Lady of Cyprus Mrs. Fotini Papadopoulou. This glamorous event aimed at further promoting cultural and business relations between Cyprus and Russia included performances by the two countries’ most celebrated artists: The Moscow Virtuosi under the direction of the illustrious Vladimir Spivakov, with guest performances from pianist Martino Tirimo, soprano Margarita Elia and clarinettist George Georgiou. The concert was followed by a dinner and further performances by Kyprogeneia, The Turetsky Choir and Pelageya.

Supporting the Radiomarathon Foundation for children with special needs.

This event was made possible by ICFI (Cyprus) Ltd.

With support from the Ministry of Education and Culture Cultural Services, Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Cyprus, Cyprus Airways and Hilton Park Nicosia.

   
 
 
Yuri Grigorovich 80th Birthday Tribute
28 January 2007, Royal Opera House, London
A tribute to one of the greatest figures in the history of 20th century ballet. Being the chief choreographer of the Bolshoi Ballet, he has created more than 30 ballets which have in time become the basis of Russia's main theatre. The evening presented suites from three of master's greatest ballets, all now firm favourites of the ballet-going public: The Golden Age, Spartacus and The Nutcracker. With the full corps de ballet of the Yuri Grigorovich Ballet Company, and its symphony orchestra and star soloists from the Bolshoi Theatre including: Maria Allash, Anna Antonicheva, Rinat Arifulin, Nina Kaptsova, Yekaterina Krysanova, Svetlana Lunkina, Denis Matviyenko, Ruslan Skvortsov, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Alexander Volchkov and Gennadi Yanin.

Sponsored by Sistema, Comstar, Volga-Dnepr, Russkaya Mysl, BMI, Vneshecombank and VTB.

   
 
 
The Third Russian Winter Festival
13 January 2007, Trafalgar Square, London
Artists: Cossack Soul, The Chuvash State Ensemble of Song & Dance, The Danilovskiy Monastery Choir, ‘Gzhel’ Moscow State Academic Theatre of Dance, Nadezhda Babkina & The Russian Song Folk Ensemble, The Suvorov Ensemble, Dima Bilan, Pelegeya, Ranetki, Tokio, Siberia, Nogu Svelo, Garik Sukachev and DJs Vengerov & Federoff.

Ensemble Productions provided artistic management support to the organiser of the Russian Winter Festival.