Karelian Philharmonic Orchestra is a cultural heritage of the Republic of Karelia and is the largest orchestra in the Russian North-west.
In the past the orchestra was conducted by Leopold Teplitsky, Konstantin Semenov, Karl Eliasberg, Iurii Aranovich, Vitalii Kataev, Aleksandr Dmitriev, Fedor Glushenko, Edvard Chizhvel Oleg Soldatov, Marius Stravinsky. Orchestra played with such eminent musicians as Sviatoslav Rikhter, Emil Gilels, Nikolai Petrov, Naum Shtarkman, Vladimir Krainev, Mstislav Rostropovich, Igor Oistrakh, Dmitrii Bashkirov, Mikhail Pletnev, Alexei Liubimov, Denis Matsuev, Nikolai Luganskii, Vadim Kholodenko, Vladimir Spivakov, Sergei Stadler, Tatiana Grindenko, Dora Shvartsberg, Aleksandr Rudin, Natalia Shakhovskaia, Iurii Bashmet, Boris Andrianov, Arkadii Shilkloper, Ilia Gringolts and many others.
The orchestra repertoire includes plays that belong to different world music styles and genres. Along with the well-known symphony masterpieces the orchestra often performs the music of the 20th-21st centuries. Not once the orchestra was trusted to play the Russian and world premieres of the contemporary compositions.
Annual season tickets and festivals show the active artistic life of the orchestra, the breadth and diversity of its interests. Symphonic concerts are attended by listeners of all ages. Great attention is paid to working with child audience. In order to attract a new audience Orchestra performs pop and rock music, popular classics, is involved in educational projects.
The orchestra performs in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, in the Republic of Karelia and other Russian regions. The touring map includes Germany, Poland, France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland. The orchestra has good relations with partners from Finland and other Scandinavian countries.
Anatolii Rybalko, an Honoured artist of Karelia is an art director and a principal conductor of the Karelia Philharmonic Orchestra (since 2013).
He graduated from the St.Petersburg State Conservatory as a choral conductor and opera and symphonic conductor. Anatolii studied from legendary teachers - professors Kudriavtseva and Martynov.
Since 2002 he has been working as a conductor in Saint-Petersburg state children’s musical theatre Zazerkalie. At the same time, he teaches at the Department of Opera and Symphony Conducting of the St. Petersburg State Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory and the St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov College.
Anatolii Rybalko cooperates with the St.Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the St.Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, the State Hermitage Orchestra and the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra.
Anatolii Rybalko toured around the cities in Russia, Europe, Japan. He was recorded at Sony Pictures Classics label.
Vasilii Ladiuk (baritone, Moscow) - one of the leading opera singers in Russia, the soloist in the Bolshoi Theatre and the Kolobov Novaya Opera Theatre of Moscow. When writing Ladyuks’ characters, the critics call him “The best Russian Eugene Onegin,” “The brilliant Onegin,” “The noble Germont,” “The outstanding and charming Figaro.” His baritone voice with bright timbral palette graces the opera performances in Russia and abroad.
The artist cooperation with such legendary conductors and directors as Valery Gergiev, Placido Domingo, Vladimir Spivakov, Vladimir Fedoseev, Mikhail Pletnev, Dmitry Urovsky, James Conlon, Andrei Konchalovsky, Dmitry Chernyakov, Francesca Zambello and Kasper Holten. Vasily Ladyuk performs at the best stages in Russia and tours around the world.
His repertoire includes not only the classical compositions but also songs by Soviet and Russian composers, popular songs.
Polina Shamaeva (mezzo-soprano, Moscow) - the soloist in the Kolobov Novaya Opera Theatre of Moscow and the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest. She performed with various ensembles in famous Moscow halls, Music House in Athens, Symphony Hall in Osaka, Minato Mirai Hall in Yokohama and many other famous concert venues. Participated in such festivals as Vladimir Spivakov Festival in Colmar, in Rheingau, Moscow Easter Festival, Dinara Alieva Opera Art Festival, Preobrazhenie Festival in Yaroslavl, Kremlin evenings in Ryazan, Kruzheva Festival in Vologda and etc.
The triumph at the Russian TV competition among professional opera singers “Big Opera” made Polina Shamaeva one of the most requested singers in Russia.
Sergei Nakariakov (trumpet, France) - one of the most famous trumpet players in the world who has changed ordinary perception of classical music played on trumpet. When Sergey was 13 years old, the Finnish mass media called him “the Paganini of Trumpet.” Later he received even a greater rank and was named “the Caruso of Trumpet,” that implies certain unique virtuosity.
The repertoire of the musician constantly expands not only due to the present diversity of original musical compositions for trumpet but also to a great number of proposals. Sergey Nakaryakov brought flugelhorn to the concert stage.
Sergey Nakaryakov performs in the most prestigious halls in the world. The audience is always delighted by his concerts no matter which program was presented. In 2002 he was received ECHO Klassik Award in the nomination “The Best Instrumentalist of the Year”.