Philharmonic Orchestra, Anatolii Rybalko, Roman Shirokikh, Aleksei Tikhomirov, Klavdia Potemkina, Timur Slanov, Arkadii Shilkloper

Karelian Philharmonic Orchestra is a cultural treasure of the Republic of Karelia, the only large regional symphony orchestra in Northwest Russia.

The orchestra was founded in 1933, uniting the best performing forces of Petrozavodsk of that time. Over the years of its existence it has repeatedly changed its founders and names: the Radio Committee Orchestra, the Karelian Philharmonic, the Karelian Radio and Television, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Karelia. In 1997 the orchestra finally joined the Karelian State Philharmonic.

Famous conductors have been at the orchestra's console: Leopold Teplitskii, Konstantin Simeonov, Carl Eliasberg, Yurii Aranovich, Vitalii Kataev, Aleksandr Dmitriev, Fiodor Glushchenko, Edward Chivzhel, Oleg Soldatov, Marius Stravinskii and Aleksei Rubin.

Event posters from different years present outstanding performers - friends and partners of the orchestra, including: Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Nikolai Petrov, Naum Shtarkman, Vladimir Krainev, Mstislav Rostropovich, Igor Oistrakh, Dmitrii Bashirov, Mikhail Pletnev, Aleksei Liubimov, Denis Matsuev, Nikolai Luganskii, Vladimir Spivakov, Sergei Stadler, Tatiana Grindenko, Dora Shvartsberg, Aleksander Rudin, Natalia Shakhovskaya, Yurii Bashmet, Arkadii Shilkloper, Ilia Gringolts and many others.

The orchestra's repertoire includes works belonging to various styles and trends in world music culture. In addition to universally recognised masterpieces of symphonic creativity, orchestral programmes often include music from the last third of the 20th century and the 21st century. More than once the orchestra has been entrusted with Russian and world premieres of contemporary works.

The orchestra's long-term subscription and festival work testify to the active creative life of the ensemble and the breadth and diversity of the performers' interests. Symphony concerts are attended by audiences of all ages. Much attention is paid to work with children's audiences. To attract new audiences, the orchestra performs pop and rock music, popular classics and participates in educational projects. The symphony orchestra gives concerts both in its native Karelia and in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities.

Anatolii Rybalko (conductor) - Honoured Artist of Karelia, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Karelian State Philharmonic (since 2013).

He received his education at the St. Petersburg State Conservatoire, specialising in "choral conducting" and "opera and symphony conducting" under legendary teachers - Professors Kudryavtseva and Martynov.

Since 2002 she has been working as a conductor at the St. Petersburg State Children's Musical Theatre "Zazerkalye". At the same time he teaches at the Department of Opera and Symphony Conducting at the St. Petersburg State Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire and the St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Music College.

He collaborates with various ensembles: the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Shostakovich St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic Orchestra, the St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra, the State Hermitage Orchestra and the Mikhailovsky Theatre Orchestra.