24 Sep 2021, 15:30

Maxim Vengerov, Russian National Orchestra perform at InClassica festival in Dubai

The musicians brought a very unusual program

Maxim Vengerov EPA-EFE/ROBERT GHEMENT

Maxim Vengerov

© EPA-EFE/ROBERT GHEMENT

DUBAI, September 24. /TASS/. Violinist Maxim Vengerov and the Russian National Orchestra (RNO) played rare compositions on Thursday as part of the anniversary International Music Festival InClassica in Dubai. Such a program is well suited for introducing the public to academic art, the violinist explained.

The concert was opened by the music of the resident composer of the festival Alexei Shor. The audience received his "Seascapes" very warmly, the maestro, who was personally present at the evening, went on stage to applause. For this evening, Vengerov and the orchestra also chose "Meditation" from Jules Massenet's opera "Thais" and the concert rhapsody "Gypsy" by Maurice Ravel. The second part featured Sergei Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony.

"This is an unusual program: light classical music, but very deep on the other hand," Vengerov said in an interview with reporters. It is good for an introduction to the classics. Today there was an audience not entirely familiar with classical music. And that's good, I always welcome it."

The main conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra of Armenia Sergei Smbatyan, who celebrated his birthday that evening, directed the concert. "We wish you, first of all, excellent health, a lot of love and more time with your family, because you are so busy," Vengerov turned to the man of the hour and played the popular melody "Happy Birthday" with the orchestra.

The concert took place at Coca-Cola Arena, which was modified the needs: the hall was reduced, the stage was surrounded by special acoustic panels. "This is an unusual hall for classical music. Of course, it is not easy for musicians to perform in such a hall, but we 'revived' it," maestro Vengerov joked.

"I am very glad that we are performing in Dubai — a city where at first there was an upsurge in commercial activity, and now cultural values are being brought to the proper level," the violinist said.

About the festival

The tenth International Music Festival InClassica takes place in Dubai from 28 August to 26 September. It includes the names of prominent musicians like Denis Matsuev, Mikhail Pletnev, Alexander Sladkovsky, Alexander Knyazev and other representatives of the Russian academic school, as well as violinists Gil Shaham and Stella Chen, pianists Rudolf Buchbinder and Fazil Say. The festival is organized by European Foundation for Support of Culture (EUFSC) and SAMIT Event Group.

The festival was originally planned for the spring in Malta, where it was being held previously, but due to the epidemiological situation it was postponed.

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