ELECTRIFYING NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC OF RUSSIA LED BY CONDUCTOR VLADIMIR SPIVAKOV SHOWCASED IN ALL RUSSIAN PROGRAM IN CHICAGO DEBUT APRIL 30, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Famed Russian Pianist Denis Matsuev Makes His Symphony Center Debut With Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1

CHICAGO—Maestro Artists Management, Inc. presents The National Philharmonic of Russia, led by Vladimir Spivakov, and featuring acclaimed pianist Denis Matsuev, Thursday, April 30 at 8pm at Symphony Center,
220 S. Michigan Ave.

The exuberant National Philharmonic of Russia (NPR) is a leading cultural ambassador for post-reconstruction Russia. Under the direction of conductor and founder Vladimir Spivakov, this young orchestra is making music on the highest level, and touring the world making the enrapturing purity of their sound available to all. The San Francisco Classical Voice raves, “Make no mistake, this ensemble must now be counted among the top 10, internationally: It is as fine an ensemble as any I have encountered.” And Newsday hails, “The National Philharmonic of Russia does its artistic heritage proud….Heeding the clear vision of Spivakov, its members play with a cohesiveness and insight that belies their short history, as if they have been doing this forever.”

“[Matsuev’s] technique is phenomenal…Perhaps he is the new Horowitz,” raves The London Times. When Russian pianist Denis Matsuev made his debut with Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Leonard Slatkin at the Ravinia Festival last summer, the Chicago Tribune remarked “Matsuev seems to command equal reserves of intelligent musicianship and fiery showmanship…tremendously exciting and engaging playing. Matsuev makes his Symphony Center debut when he joins Spivakov for Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1.

The all-Russian program also includes Tchaikovsky’s “Polonaise” from the opera “Eugene Onegin,” his fantasy-overture “Romeo and Juliet,” and favorite selections from the composer’s greatest ballet score, “Suite from The Sleeping Beauty,” a sumptuous work that often plays second fiddle to the dance, but is meant to be relished on its own in the hands of a great orchestra such as the NPR.

Composed of Russia’s leading symphonic virtuosos and led by the electrifying conductor and violinist Vladimir Spivakov, the National Philharmonic of Russia (NPR) is one of the musical symbols of new Russia. As its name suggests, the NPR is not only a major musical institution, but also a cultural ambassador for post-reconstruction Russia. Created with generous support from Russia’s Cultural Ministry, the NPR was founded in January 2003 as commissioned by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The orchestra symbolizes the deep commitment the country maintains to its rich cultural traditions, as well as the bold steps it is taking towards an innovative and dynamic future.

The National Philharmonic of Russia resides at the Moscow International Performing Arts Center, one of the largest performing arts centers in Europe. Since a core mission of the orchestra is to promote and preserve Russia’s cultural heritage for future generations, the Center also hosts Vladimir Spivakov’s International Foundation, which supports talented young musicians in Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The NPR has performed in Europe and Japan, toured throughout Russia, recorded works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, premiered H. Shore’s “Lord of the Rings” Symphony in Moscow and Tokyo, and presented A. Rybnikov’s Fifth Symphony in Moscow. In May 2005, the Capriccio Recording Company released the CD and DVD of Isaak Schwartz’s Concert for Orchestra, “Yellow Stars”, recorded by the NPR under Vladimir Spivakov to whom the composer dedicated the work. The National Philharmonic of Russia completed a successful US tour debut with 36 performances between February and April 2007. The April 30 performance marks NPR’s Symphony Center debut.

Vladimir Spivakov, artistic director and principal conductor of the National Philharmonic of Russia (NPR), is a remarkable musician with a multifaceted career. He is a prominent violinist who has appeared both as recitalist and orchestral
soloist in major music capitals throughout the world.

Spivakov has appeared as a respected guest conductor with such renowned orchestras as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, the Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony, the English and Scottish chamber orchestras, and the chamber orchestras of Dresden, Rome, and the Netherlands. He is also founder, conductor and violin soloist of the Moscow Virtuosi, which under his leadership has developed into one of the world's leading chamber ensembles.

Spivakov made his U.S. debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1975 and soon afterwards, appeared as guest soloist with the orchestras of Cleveland, Dallas, Pittsburgh and San Francisco. He successfully launched his conducting career in 1979 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival which encouraged him to establish the Moscow Virtuosi.

He continues to pursue his solo career and in recent seasons has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Seattle Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra and L'Orchestre National de France. In 1989 Spivakov was appointed artistic director of the Colmar International Festival in France, which under his direction has become one of Europe's leading music festivals.

Spivakov has made more than 20 recordings for the BMG/RCA Red Seal label of works ranging from Bach, Haydn and Mozart to Shostakovich, Schnittke and Shchedrin; and has recorded concertos by Brahms, Prokofiev, Sibelius and Tchaikovsky for RCA Red Seal.

Spivakov has received numerous honors and awards including Russia's highest prize, the National Cultural Heritage Award; First Prize at the Montreal Competition; the Marguerite Long St. Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris; the Nicolo Paganini International Violin Competition in Genoa and the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. He is Ambassador of the Arts for the World Economic

Forum in Davos, Switzerland and has worked on behalf of victims of the Stalin
regime and children who suffered from the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. In May 1994 he established an international charity foundation that provides creative and financial support to talented young people and needy children from his homeland.

Denis Matsuev has become a rising-star on the international concert stage after his triumphant victory at the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and has quickly established himself as one of the most sought after pianists of his generation.

Since then, he has appeared in hundreds of recitals at prestigious concert halls throughout the world, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Salle Gaveau and Théâtre de Champs Elysée in Paris, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Müsikhalle in Hamburg, Musikverein in Vienna, Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Great Hall of the Conservatoire in Moscow, Great Hall of Philharmonie in St. Petersburg, La Scala in Milan and the new Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall in St. Petersburg.

Matsuev has given brilliant performances with Russian orchestras such as Saint-Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, and Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra; and around the world with orchestras including Symphonieorchester Bayerischen Rundfunks, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Filharmonica della Scala, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Budapest Festival Orchestra, among others.

In the U.S., Matsuev has appeared with orchestras such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In 2007-2008, he opened the season of Houston Symphony Orchestra, and performed 11 concerts in the United States with State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia.

Over the past three years, Matsuev collaborated with the Serge Rachmaninoff Foundation and its President Alexander Rachmaninoff, the grandson of the composer. He was chosen by the Foundation to perform and record unknown
pieces of Rachmaninoff on the composer’s own piano at the Rachmaninoff house Villa Senar in Lucerne, Switzerland. This unique program has been in high demand across the world. After his triumphal appearance at Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, The Independent observed, “Matsuev spent the first half of his concert proving he had an artistic hot-line to his great predecessor… He has the rare gift of letting notes expand in a surrounding stillness.” Matsuev featured this program in his critically acclaimed debut at the Ravinia Festival in July 2008.

Matsuev is also Artistic Director of two famous classical music festivals in Russia: “Stars on Baikal” in Irkutsk and “Crescendo” in Moscow, under the patronage of the President of the Russian Federation. These festivals feature gifted Russian soloists from all over the world with the best Russian orchestras and present a new generation of students from Russia’s music schools.

Maestro Artists Management, Inc. presents The National Philharmonic of Russia, led by Vladimir Spivakov, and featuring acclaimed pianist Denis Matsuev, Thursday, April 30 at 8 p.m. at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets are $30-$110. For tickets or more information call (312) 294-3000 or visit www.cso.org.


Maestro Artist Management, Inc. is a production, touring and promotion company that focuses on presenting events of international artists in various genres, from classical music and dance to theater and world music. For more information visit www.maestroartist.com.