Philharmonic Orchestra, Anatolii Rybalko, Gaik Kazazian, Andrei Potaturin, Alina Chertash, Anna Shapovalova, Konstantin Artemiev
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 Society.
Famous conductors have been at the orchestra's console: Leopold Teplitsky, Konstantin Simeonov, Carl Eliasberg, Yuri Aranovich, Vitaly Kataev, Alexander Dmitriev, Fyodor Glushchenko, Edward Chivzhel, Oleg Soldatov, Marius Stravinsky and Alexei 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, Dmitry Bashirov, Mikhail Pletnev, Alexei Lyubimov, Denis Matsuev, Nikolai Lugansky, Vladimir Spivakov, Sergei Stadler, Tatiana Grindenko, Dora Shvartsberg, Alexander Rudin, Natalia Shakhovskaya, Yuri Bashmet, Arkady Shilkloper, Ilya 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.
*photo from the Philharmonic archive
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.
*photo from the Philharmonic archive
Gaik Kazazyan (violin) is hailed as one of the most talented violinists of his generation for his polished technique, bright temperament, deep sound and musicality. He is a soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic, one of the star pupils of the legendary violinist and teacher Eduard Grach, and winner of the XV International Tchaikovsky Competition. He is a prize-winner at international competitions in Kloster-Schontal (Germany), Yampolsky (Russia), Wieniawski in Poznan (Poland), Sion (Switzerland), Long and Thibault in Paris (France), Tongyeong (South Korea) and Enescu in Bucharest (Romania). His performances have been broadcast by Kultura, Mezzo, Brussels Television, BBC Radio and Orpheus.
*Photo from the artist's personal archive
Andrei Potaturin (baritone) was born in the Saratov region. In 2016 he graduated from the Sobinov Saratov State Conservatoire (class of Belova). In 2015-2019 he was a soloist at the Saratov Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. His repertoire includes title roles in the operas Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart, Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, Figaro (The Barber of Seville by Rossini), Vedenetsky Guest (Sadko by Rimsky-Korsakov), Robert (Iolanta by Tchaikovsky).
Since 2019 he has been a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre.
*Photo by Vadim Gortinskii
Alina Chertash (mezzo-soprano) was born in Omsk. In 2015 she graduated from the Omsk Shebalin Music College (class of Ogneva) and in 2021 from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music (class of Lisitsian).
Since 2019 - trainee, since 2022 - soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre.
*Photo from the artist's personal archive
Anna Shapovalova (soprano) was born in the village of Kagalnik, Azovsky District, Rostov Region. In 2014 she graduated from the Rostov State Conservatoire named after Gorky. In 2014 she graduated from the Rakhmaninov Rostov State Conservatoire, specialising in solo singing (class of Shorluyan).
Since 2014 she has been a soloist at the Rostov State Musical Theatre. She made her debut as Tatyana (Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin), later performed the roles of Mimi (Puccini's La Bohème), Joan of Arc (Verdi's Joan of Arc - the first production in Russia), Lisa (Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades), Emma (Tchaikovsky's The Queen of Spades), Emma (Khovanshchina by Mussorgsky), Yaroslavna (Prince Igor by Borodin), Agafya Tikhonovna (Marriage by Mussorgsky - Ippolitov-Ivanov), Nedda (Pagliacci by Leoncavallo), Liu (Turandot by Puccini).
Since April 2021 she has been a trainee, since November 2021 she has been a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre.
*Photo from the artist's personal archive
Konstantin Artemiev (tenor) was born in Moscow. In 2011 he graduated from the Gnessin Music School with a degree in choral conducting, and in 2018 he graduated from the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatoire (solo singing class of Yuri Grigoriev).
Since 2019 a trainee, since 2022 a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre.
*Photo by Vadim Gortinskii
