State Academy Choir of Moscow Region named after A. Kozhevnikov
Choir of the Russian songs
Ensemble of soloists and ballet dancers of Choir of the Russian songs of the Russian state music TV- 
and radio centre (“Orfey”)
Art director and chief conductor – Nikolay Azarov
Chief choreographer – Lyudmila Baykova
Narrator – Vladimir Koshevoi
Director – Denis Azarov

“If you try and mentally ‘cut’ Vologda and Vologda Krai in the middle, your cut will reach heaven. It starts from the beauty of the very land, from the unbelievably blue colour of the frescos of Dyonisiy in Ferapontovo and purest monastery airs to the aromas of Vassily Belov’s prose and breathtaking music of Valery Gavrilin. The Gavrilin’s main masterpiece choral symphony “Chimes” contains everything that Russian heart and soul desires, you just have to listen…”, conductor Vadimir Fedoseev, who frequently played the music of Vologda-native Gavrilin, once described his music. 

An outstanding Soviet composer and State Prize laureate Valery Gavrilin wrote symphony, choir, and chamber music, besides movie soundtracks. In the epoche of avant-garde he, like Sviridov, praised ancient folk traditions, but created his own unique music idioma. His art, both democratic and thought-provoking, quickly gained recognition. In 2019 Gavrilin could have celebrated his 80th birthday. The composer had died couple of months before his 60th birthday. 

The longest, greatest, and emblematic among Gavrilov’s oeuvre is “Chimes”. The composer defined the genre of the piece as an action-symphony. “As far as form concerned, ‘Chimes’ are nearest to mystery”, he explained. “In Russian we call it ‘deystviye’, ‘action’. So, it’s a kind of a symphony-action for choir <…>. ‘Chimes’ are designed as theatrical piece of the folk drama type, with light and scenography. But it’s not a cycle action, there’s a certain story to be performed on stage”.

These days, the performance of such an epic work is a certain rarity for many reasons. First and foremost, it is very hard to gather together many highly professional singers, who can overcome all the technical difficulties and other challenges of the music. The composer himself acknowledged, that the piece actually is “a school for choir singer”. 

Two choirs take part in the anniversary concert: the State Academy Choir of Moscow Region named after A. Kozhevnikov and the Choir of the Russian songs. The unique combination of folk and classical vocal produces an unusual timbre and sound palette – exactly what the composer conceived.

The event is organized by
OOO “Opera and Music ICM”
TIN 7703387435
Legal address: 119019, Moscow, Nikitsky blvrd, 11/12, bldg 1, room 1,2
This concert is not included in #зарядисьмузыкой (get charged by music) discount programme of the Moscow Concert Hall “Zaryadye”