The Second S. Rachmaninoff Festival was completed in Veliky Novgorod with great success.The festival took place from 12 to 14 December at the Novgorod Regional Philharmonic named after A. Arensky

In the run-up to the New Year holidays, the organizers traditionally prepared a unique program for the audience. The festival brought together various musical genres on one stage, featuring renowned masters of Russian and international music art,  young performers, and winners of international music competitions.

On the first day, the audience was offered a concert program of timeless works by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Pyotr Tchaikovsky. The Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Bashkortostan, conducted by Dmitry Kryukov, performed for the first time on the Novgorod stage. The outstanding pianist and Honored Artist of Russia Boris Berezovsky played piano solo that evening.

The second day of the project was devoted to an international program. The festival featured outstanding soloists: Michel Dalberto (France, piano), Charles Reydellet (France, French horn), Martina Grecia (Italy, soprano), Jin Jiujie (China, mezzo-soprano), and Xu Mini (China, tenor). Two maestros, Dmitry Kryukov and Nikolai Tsinman, conducted the evening.

According to tradition, the event’s organizers dedicated the third day to experimental music, discovering new talents and new forms of sound. The Novgorod stage hosted a concert by Gleb Andrianov and the Cinematica orchestra – a  chamber orchestra of a new generation.

Yulia Timofeeva, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Novgorod Region:

“I thank the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and our good friends, the Federal State Budgetary Cultural Institution “ROSCONCERT”, for giving us an opportunity to gather true connoisseurs and admirers of great Russian art within the walls of the Novgorod Regional Philharmonic for the second year in a row. It is symbolic that the festival is taking place on the eve of the New Year. It is like a Christmas miracle. Three evenings, three unique concerts that reveal both the genius of the maestro himself and the richness of the world of classical music. Congratulations!”

As part of the festival, in the Philharmonic’s foyer an interactive exhibition Rachmaninoff in Letters was displayed, featuring excerpts from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s correspondence with prominent artists of his time, as well as photographs of the musician, brought to life through the use of modern technology.

Over the course of three days, the project revealed the key pillars of Rachmaninoff’s creative work—his love for his homeland, music, and freedom. Each evening of the festival was a sell-out. The audience gave the musicians a standing ovation and did not want to leave the auditorium. All concerts were also streamed live. Thousands of viewers from across Russia and abroad watched the project online.

The project, launched in 2024, is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Novgorod Region. Organized by the Federal State Budgetary Cultural Institution ROSCONCERT with the participation of the NOTKA Cultural Cultural Institution.