21.06.2017
A night of music in Gatchina
On 8 July, the Mikhailovsky Theatre symphony orchestra, under the direction of conductor Mikhail Tatarnikov, will play at the Night of Music Festival in Gatchina. There will be open-air performances of world classical masterpieces, with the majestic Gatchina Palace, Antonio Rinaldi’s brilliant creation, acting as a natural backdrop.
Some believe that it is the task of music to mesmerize, to penetrate one’s subconscious, and move the listener, like Alexander Blok’s Unknown Woman, enveloped in a cloud of delicate yet distinctive perfume. Then, the music may remain with a person forever, and musical experiences within the individual consciousness may function like a time machine: ensuring that the atmosphere in which the music was originally played lives on along with the music. Gatchina is perfectly suited to an evening in which great music penetrates our memory: stunning architecture, the melancholy landscapes of the park, and the sublime style of a serene and sophisticated evening.
A concert stage is traditionally erected on the White Lake, where the still, smooth surface of the water reflects the undimmed sky of the White Nights. The musical extravaganza will open with the Festival Coronation March by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Piano Concerto No. 3 by Ludwig van Beethoven. The soloist will be Egyptian pianist Ramzi Yassa. The first Arab musician to record Beethoven’s piano concertos, Yassa has performed with many world-famous conductors during his long career, including Vladimir Ashkenazy and Zubin Mehta. On this particular evening, maestro Tatarnikov will lead the way.
In the second half of the concert, the suite from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet and Boléro by Maurice Ravel will be played. This last piece may elicit associations with the famous performances of Maurice Béjart’s ballet in Versailles. Boléro was the final coda to the legendary evenings there, which became the stuff of history in large part because they had the magnificent palace and park ensemble as a natural backdrop.
The music festival will conclude close to sunrise: a triumphant barrage of fireworks will bestow a fiery richness on the tranquil colour palette of the summer night sky.
Some believe that it is the task of music to mesmerize, to penetrate one’s subconscious, and move the listener, like Alexander Blok’s Unknown Woman, enveloped in a cloud of delicate yet distinctive perfume. Then, the music may remain with a person forever, and musical experiences within the individual consciousness may function like a time machine: ensuring that the atmosphere in which the music was originally played lives on along with the music. Gatchina is perfectly suited to an evening in which great music penetrates our memory: stunning architecture, the melancholy landscapes of the park, and the sublime style of a serene and sophisticated evening.
A concert stage is traditionally erected on the White Lake, where the still, smooth surface of the water reflects the undimmed sky of the White Nights. The musical extravaganza will open with the Festival Coronation March by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Piano Concerto No. 3 by Ludwig van Beethoven. The soloist will be Egyptian pianist Ramzi Yassa. The first Arab musician to record Beethoven’s piano concertos, Yassa has performed with many world-famous conductors during his long career, including Vladimir Ashkenazy and Zubin Mehta. On this particular evening, maestro Tatarnikov will lead the way.
In the second half of the concert, the suite from the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet and Boléro by Maurice Ravel will be played. This last piece may elicit associations with the famous performances of Maurice Béjart’s ballet in Versailles. Boléro was the final coda to the legendary evenings there, which became the stuff of history in large part because they had the magnificent palace and park ensemble as a natural backdrop.
The music festival will conclude close to sunrise: a triumphant barrage of fireworks will bestow a fiery richness on the tranquil colour palette of the summer night sky.
