Russian Ambassador hails ‘magnificent’ blockbuster London charity concert hosted by Oleg Deripaska’s Volnoe Delo Foundation
21 December 2011
Volnoe Delo, the philanthropic foundation of Russian entrepreneur Oleg Deripaska, hosted the world renowned violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists on 15th December at Cadogan Hall. The concert was part of the Moscow Soloists’ 20th anniversary world tour.
Volnoe Delo was delighted with the success of its first big event outside Russia, with leading music critics joining high profile guests from charities, the arts, business and the international diplomatic community at a pre-concert reception.
Russian Ambassador, H.E. Alexander Yakovenko said:
“The concert of Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists at Cadogan Hall was magnificent. This superb rendition of the classics deeply impressed me. Cultural exchanges are key to understanding each other better and I look forward to welcoming many more talented Russian artists and performers to London. I also appreciate the support of Russian businesses in promoting our culture abroad.”
In 1992, Mr Bashmet brought together the most talented alumni, students and graduate students of the Moscow Conservatory to form the Moscow Soloists ensemble.
The Moscow Soloists performed a selection of works by J.S.Bach, G.Pergolesi, G. Rossini and F.Schubert. Performing were some of Russia’s rising stars, including Alena Baeva (violin), Xenia Bashmet (piano), Dinara Alieva (soprano), Alexander Buzlov (cello) and other young and talented musicians.
Oleg Deripaska is CEO of Basic Element, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of UC Rusal (the world’s largest producer of aluminium) and President of En+ Group. He is the founder of the Volnoe Delo Foundation which supports educational and cultural programmes across Russia.
About the Moscow Soloists
The history of the ensemble is closely intertwined with its founder and leader Yuri Bashmet. A singularly talented musician, his performances celebrate the poetry of string and bow and have turned the alto into one of the most enticing instruments in modern performance. Yuri Bashmet is both the head and driving force behind international festivals in Russia, Germany, France, Switzerland and Italy, founder of the Shostakovich International Foundation and annual award – and organiser of the only international alto competition in Russia.
The Moscow Soloists is one of the Maestro Yuri Bashmet’s most cherished projects. Upon its creation in 1992, the ensemble promptly reaffirmed the Russian capital’s status as a centre of fine artistic performances. The Moscow Soloists brought together the most talented alumni, students and graduate students of the Moscow Conservatory. The ensemble debuted on the legendary stage of the alma mater on May 19th, 1992.
Today the orchestra is booked years in advance. The musicians have had a rich creative career: approximately 1500 concerts in over 60 countries across 5 continents, performances at the most prestigious concert halls. The ensemble, which commands a repertoire of over 250 pieces, encompassing everything from world-renowned masterpieces of classical music to the work of rarely performed composers both modern and old, will take it’s listeners on a voyage of discovery and introduce them to the finest compositions in the history of music.