What impressed Russian musicians the most about China is that the "Russian Symphony Flagship" returns to Shanghai Audience | China | Shanghai
"The Chinese audience not only maintains enthusiasm, but also has higher quality, more professional, and better understanding of us. They work hard to understand and listen to our music, and every musician on stage can feel the feedback from the audience. What impressed me most was that there were many small audience members at the concert, who were not noisy or noisy, especially quiet and enjoyable. I hope that when these children grow up, we will have the opportunity to be invited back to China to perform for them." On the evening of June 25th, before the Shanghai concert of the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra in Russia, the band leader Cherkasov smiled.
In March of this year, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra was the first international top symphony orchestra to officially announce its return to the Shanghai stage. The concert sold out 48 hours after its opening in April. The addition of media seats during the evening performance reflects the popularity of the band.
"The Shanghai Concert is the conclusion of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra's six stop China tour, and also the earliest international orchestra performance we have finalized." Liu Aihua, Deputy General Manager of Shanghai Oriental Art Center, said that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Russian musician Rahmaninov. Dongyi has planned concerts in different forms throughout the year, and this performance by the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra is of utmost importance. The orchestra has chosen the most representative two "La Er" - piano concertos and symphonies, which are beloved by Chinese audiences.
The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, which has gone through centuries, is one of the most renowned symphonic orchestras in Russia and one of the top ten symphonic orchestras in the world. In 1938, Muravensky joined the band, ushering in the "Muravensky era" that fans admired. During his half century of coaching, the band rose to the ranks of the world's top bands. In 1988, conductor Yuri Temirkanov took over as the band's chief conductor, leading the band for over thirty years.
This is the third visit of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra to Dongyi. As early as 2014 and 2016, this Russian "flagship of classical music" made its debut at Dongyi under the leadership of Yuri Tmilkanov. In 2014, Tmilkanov led the band's massive lineup of 120 people to create a night of all Russian works, using a song "The Arabian Nights" to commemorate the 170th anniversary of Rimsky Kosakov's birth; In 2016, the band's first stop on a Chinese tour came to Shencheng. In addition to bringing Tchaikovsky's most famous symphony "Pathetique" and Shostakovich's "Fifth Symphony", they also performed "My Motherland" in the return segment to express their appreciation for Chinese fans.
"The beautiful urban landscape of Shanghai, the unique architecture of Dongyi, and the enthusiastic audience have all left a deep impression on us." Cherkasov said, "The band has been waiting for a long time to return to China." With the support of our partners, we completed the organization of this concert within two months and are very happy to be able to participate. This is the happiness of being an artist. "
In 2022, Yuri Tmilkanov transferred the position of chief conductor to Nikolai Alexeyev, who had been working with the band for over 20 years. This year's China tour was conducted under the leadership of Nikolai Alexeyev. "We feel the longing of Chinese audiences for classical music concerts, and we have prepared gifts that we hope everyone can receive at the concert. For us, being able to use music to get close to the hearts of creators and audiences is happiness."
Daniel Haritonov, a 24-year-old Russian young pianist and 16-year-old rising star in "Chaisai", collaborated with the band. At the media conference, he deliberately put on a tie that was taken off from his neck and given to him by Rachmaninov's grandson, like a lucky charm. When the host introduced his diligence, "I have been practicing the piano since coming to Shanghai until I came to attend the meeting," he shyly corrected, "I still have time to sleep."
After the press conference, the band immediately conducted a public rehearsal, allowing Shanghai fans to witness the weight and seriousness of Russian symphony before the official performance. As Cherkasov said, "We are an 'academic symphony orchestra' that presents the authentic classical style, hoping that the Chinese audience can feel the Russian passion for music."
