Masterpieces by Stravinsky to be performed in Moscow

The programme for the concert includes two symphonic vocal masterpieces by Igor Stravinsky – Les Noces and Oedipus Rex. The first work, conceived by the composer as Russian choreographic scenes for soloists, a chorus, four pianos and percussion, will be performed by Irina Vasilieva, Olga Savova, Alexander Timchenko and Andrei Serov along with pianist Sergei Babayan and his students Stanislav Khristenko, Dmitri Levkovich and Marina Radyushina. The title role in the opera-oratorio Oedipus Rex after the eponymous tragedy by Sophocles will be performed by Sergei Semishkur, that of Jocasta by Zlata Bulycheva, that of the Shepherd by Alexander Timchenko and the three roles of Creon, Tiresias and the Messenger by Mikhail Petrenko.

According to Alan Gilbert, Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, maestro Gergiev is the most dazzling interpreter of Stravinsky’s music today. In the spring of 2010 at the  Russian Stravinsky festival in New York, along with other works by the composer Gergiev presented Les Noces and Oedipus Rex with the Mariinsky Theatre Chorus – a performance that received lavish praise from the critics. The same year at the  Stars of the White Nights festival, the role of the Speaker in  Oedipus Rex was performed by Gérard Depardieu at the Concert Hall, which was followed by a Mariinsky label release of a recording of both of these works by Stravinsky featuring the famous French actor as the Speaker in  Oedipus Rex. The disc proved a tremendous success and was named an ICMA 2011 Award Winner for the best work by a chorus and France’s Opéra Magazine awarded it five stars.

The concert in Moscow begins at 14:00.