ST.PETERSBURG ACADEMIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

This year the ST.PETERSBURG ACADEMIC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA celebrates its 80 anniversary – reputable age, as thinks its chief conductor Alexander Dmitriev. “Saying that the orchestra has reached its maturity we take the risk to call it a day, to admit its development is over. I wouldn't like it. The orchestra has already found its repute, its audience, both in St.Petersburg and abroad. But we have perspectives to develop”. Obviously, the aspiration for progress is the secret of the brilliant reputation of the ensemble, what is confirmed by foreign critic: “Feeling drained at the end, I would have been happy not to have had more but when you hear an orchestra of this calibre on stage you do want more from them...” (Bob Briggs, Music Web International, 2009) – such reviews accompany the orchestra concerts for more some decades. Both audience and critics recognize the ensemble with the true Petersburg style, faithful to classical traditions and, at the same time opened to the best of nowadays. This is the logical result of work of many generations of brilliant musicians – distinguished representatives of domestic conductor school – Evgeny Mravinsky, Ilya Musin, Karl Eliasberg, Nikolai Rabinovich, Arvid Jansons, Yuri Temirkanov and of course Alexander Dmitriev, its unchallenged leader for the last thirty odd years.

The history of the orchestra began in 1931 when an ensemble was organized at the Leningrad Radio. Shortly after that, the ensemble grew to the level of a symphony orchestra. An orchestra, performing in the live air format and collaborating with many conductors, called for constant reinvigoration of a program and acquired flexibility in its performing manner. During the World War II Siege of Leningrad, this orchestra of Leningrad Radio was the only symphony orchestra remaining in the blockaded city. In – August 1942, conducted by Karl Eliasberg, this orchestra played the historic Leningrad première of the Seventh Symphony by Shostakovich.

In the summer of 1953 it became the second orchestra of Leningrad Philharmonia. Tours were held for the first time, including tours abroad; in 1962–1963 the series of composers concerts were complemented with I. Stravinsky and B. Britten. The orchestra gained itself fame of the best accompanying orchestras in the nation, performing with Van Cliburn, Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Yehudi Menuhin and David Oistrakh. In 1968 right after PhD studies at Leningrad conservatory, Yuri Temirkanov joins the orchestra. His activity is related to the rapid growth in repertoire and important tours.

In 1977 the orchestra had been taken over by its today’s artistic director Alexander Dmitriev. During the ensuing years in St. Petersburg, the orchestra presented premières of music by Mahler, Debussy, Ravel, Scriabin, Tippet, Orff, Petrov, Slonimsky, Falik, and Pärt. Slonimsky dedicates his Twelfth Symphony to the orchestra, according to him he is obliged to the ensemble with “his symphony debuts”; at the concert dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Yuri Falik's birthday they play the premiere of his Third Symphony. The orchestra, participated in debut concert of the Conservatory student Andrei Petrov in 1954, half a century after the ensemble plays at the first concert in memory of the composer. In its repertoire the Leningrad Symphony by Shostakovich still plays a significant part. In 2004 it was played in honor of the 60th anniversary of the reversal of blockade. And on the 9th of May, 2005 at the Victory Day it was played in Albert Hall under the baton of Maxim Shostakovich – son of the composer.

In this jubilee season the orchestra will play Russian premiere of Debussy's opera “Rodrigue et Chimène”, the work with almost detective history. It is the event, worthy of the Year of Russia-France. Another concert dedicated to the cross year of Italy-Russia will open Italian musical pages. There will be a concert with all musical premieres of Britain. At concerts of the “Cheerful Classics” Season Ticket the orchestra will present Russian premieres of music by Crumb, Adams and Spohr, at concert of the Viennese serial – almost all known works by Dittersdorf and Wranitzky (Vranický), concerto by
Černý, suite by Schreker, which was played in the Grand Hall under the baton of the author. In “Concerts in Tailcoats and Jeans” will be played works by Copland and Bernstein, Rota and Rybnikov – composers, whose works are becoming classic beneath our very eyes. It is important to name the Queen Symphony by Kashif, which London premiere was met by a two thousand audience applause.

It is planned the concert of Sergei Slonimsky, Petersburg composer of the same age as the ensemble.

An intriguing event should be the concert with music of Petersburg composers, inspired by the stories and pictures painted by young philharmonic listeners.

The orchestra will continue its tradition of taking part in Musical Olympus and Petersburg Musical Spring Festivals, International Winter Festival “Arts Square” and International Festival “Musical Collection”. In October 2012 the ensemble will go on tour in Great Britain, included in the program the Leningrad Symphony (by the request of the host side). The same symphony they will play at the closing season concert, dedicated the performance to the 70th anniversary of its premiere in siege Leningrad.