Tchaikovsky. Bach. Galliano. Piazzolla

Located far from the world’s great music capitals, Novosibirsk nevertheless enjoys an illustrious reputation throughout the world for its violin school, most dazzlingly represented by Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin – two of the most “in demand” musicians in the world. The Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, which comprises talented young musicians bursting with ideas, is today one of the most popular and admired ensembles in the city and has the honour of continuing the traditions of the famed Novosibirsk school of string instruments. The orchestra was formed in the early 1990s.

The orchestra’s performances in Novosibirsk are always sold out. Each of the orchestra’s programmes proves an interesting and dramatic event. The ensemble’s Principal Conductor Alim Shakh and its musicians never fail to find interesting solutions to their musical tasks, attaining lofty heights in their performing style.

The maestro and the orchestra offer audiences unusual programmes featuring performers of diverse exotic instruments and seek out new ways to attract new audiences to concert halls in addition to helping young audiences discover the achievements made by world music. The orchestra is a focal point of the Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra’s international activities. The ensemble has initiated numerous international projects. The orchestra has been an active participant at the opening of The Year of German Culture in Russia (January 2004), Swedish Days in Novosibirsk (April 2004) and Days of British Music in Novosibirsk. In 2010 the orchestra took part in the official opening of the Year of Russian Culture in France.

Russian and international stars enjoy coming to Novosibirsk in addition to appearing with the orchestra on its tours. The orchestra also considers one of its duties to be bringing new young talented musicians to Novosibirsk.

The orchestra tours frequently and appears at various festivals in Russia, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy.

The Chamber Orchestra regularly releases new recordings; one of them, Tongues of Fire, was recorded under the baton of Swiss conductor Rainer Held and was one of the top twenty best recordings in the 2012 Critics’ Choice of Great Britain’s Gramophone magazine.