Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, Yuri Bashmet & Mikhail Porechenkov

The Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra was founded by Yuri Bashmet in 1986. In 1992 the ensemble's membership was completely renewed: Yuri Bashmet invited talented young people - graduates, students and post-graduate students of the Moscow Conservatoire. In its current composition Moscow Soloists debuted May 19, 1992 on the stage of the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire, and a day later, on May 21 - the stage of the Paris Hall "Pleyel".

The Moscow Soloists are a band of true soul mates. The impeccable sense of an ensemble of musicians who have been playing together for decades is matched by the vivid individuality of each artist (many of them are famous soloists and winners of international competitions). The perfect understanding between conductor and musicians as they perform together creates a unique aura and the sensation of music being born "here and now", making each performance of the ensemble unrepeatable.

The ensemble has been hailed by the international press as one of the best in the genre and has been called "the voice of its country" (Israel's Davar).

The repertoire of the Moscow Soloists includes over 350 masterpieces of Russian and world classics and rarely performed works of the 17th-20th centuries: from Bach and Mozart to Schnittke and Denisov. The ensemble regularly performs works by Kancheli, Gubaidulina, Aleksandr Tchaikovsky and other contemporary composers.

Over the last quarter-century, the Moscow Soloists have performed more than 2,500 concerts. Their art has been applauded in more than 50 countries of Europe and Asia, North and Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.

In 2008, the Moscow Soloists became the first Russian chamber ensemble to be awarded a Grammy for the entire 50-year history of the competition.


Yuri Bashmet - People's Artist of the USSR.

A famous Russian violist, conductor, teacher and public figure. The musician has elevated his instrument to a new global level, becoming the first performer of numerous works for viola written by our contemporaries.

Yuri Bashmet's name has long been synonymous with musical depth, virtuosity and artistic courage. For the first time in world performing practice, Yuri Bashmet has given solo viola concerts at Carnegie Hall (New York), the Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), the Barbican (London), Berlin’s Philharmonie, La Scala (Milan), At the Théâtre des Champs Élysées (Paris), the Konzerthaus (Berlin), Herkules (Munich), Boston Symphony Hall, Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Osaka Symphony Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, the Gulbecian Centre (Lisbon) and the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire.

Having begun his conducting career in 1985, Yuri Bashmet has remained true to himself here as well, confirming his reputation as a courageous and highly contemporary artist. As a soloist and conductor, Yuri Bashmet has performed with the world's great symphony orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Berlin Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Bauerische Rundfunk, the San Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the Wiener Philharmonic and Orchestra Radio France.

Yuri Bashmet's art has always been in the centre of attention of the international music community. His work has won numerous awards at home and abroad, including the Order of Merit for the Fatherland. Yuri Bashmet is the Artistic Director of 15 festivals in eight countries.

He is the Artistic Director, Conductor and Soloist of the Moscow Soloists State Chamber Orchestra.


Mikhail Porechenkov - People's artist of the Russian Federation.

Mikhail Porechenkov is a theatre and film actor and a TV presenter. He is best known for his roles in Wuthering Gate, Heavenly Court, Mechanical Suite, Mamas and the TV series Agent of National Security, Liquidation and Gangster St. Petersburg: Baron.

Mikhail graduated from LGITMiK in 1996 (class of Filshtinsky). After graduating from the institute he worked in the theatre On the Kryukov Channel, later joined the troupe of the Academic Theatre named after Lensoviet where he appeared in performances of Butusov.

In 2002 Mikhail Porechenkov debuted on the stage of the Moscow Art Theatre named after Chekhov, and a year later was accepted to the troupe of the Moscow Art Theatre.

He is a laureate of the Sozvezdie, Strzhelchik and Oleg Tabakov prizes. In 2017 he was awarded the Figaro Theatre Award in the category "The Best" for exceptional achievements in acting drama.