In music circles, Moisey Weinberg (or Mieczysław, according to his passport) is usually referred to as one of the classics of Soviet music, along with Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Khachaturyan, etc. 

Though he might not be a household name, but his music is familiar to millions, for it was him who wrote soundtracks to many popular cartons and really great feature films, including “The Cranes are Flying” that won Palme d'Or at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival. Besides, he composed lots of other “serious” stuff – chamber music, symphonies, ballets, etc. 

Fortunately, the recent years see the comeback of Weinberg’s music. Operas “The Passenger” and “Idiot” are premiered; symphonies and chamber music are performed frequently, and international musicologist conferences are being held. “Muszikalnoye Obozreniye” (“Music Review”) paper and its editor in chief Andrey Oustinov declared 2019 “Year of Weinberg in Russia”. 2019th is the 100th anniversary of Weinberg. 

Weinberg and Shostakovich were friends for many years. Each and every piece Weinberg composed he first showed to his teacher Shostakovich, who he idolized. Of course, Weinberg was influenced by Shostakovich to a certain degree, but his philosophy was that “Artist’s power or powerlessness is in his ability to express the eternal truth shedding new light on it”. His music does shed this new light. 

This night, star musicians perform three pieces: Weinberg’s Quintet, renowned Shostakovich’s Trio dedicated to Sollertinsky, and a piece by contemporary Russian composer Igor Raykhelson, whose rare melodic gift is just stunning.