The Metelitsa State Orchestra of Russian Folk Instruments was created in 1989 by Igor Tonin, who has been at the helm of the group, as its leader and principal conductor ever since. In 2019, the Orchestra is celebrating 30 years of its creative activities. The script of the anniversary celebration has been conceived as a retrospective view of Metelitsa’s 30-year history. The concert program includes the works that appeared on the orchestra’s repertoire over this time. The Metelitsa soloists Leila Akhmedova (domra), Tatyana Golubchik (violin), Anastasia Tonina (flute), Evgeny Zhelinsky (balalaika), Mikhail Shustalov (bayan), Andrey Kuzminov (bayan), Elena Kurskaya (folk singing), Elena Veselova (gusli) and Konstantin Shakhanov (gusli) are laureates at Russian and international competitions.
The concert is also featuring the soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre Olga Trifonova (soprano) and Alexander Mikhaylov (tenor). Chinese lyrical songs will be performed by Peng Inlai (soprano). The authentic art of the Republic of Kalmykia will be presented by Danara Shalkhanova (folk singing), the principal conductor of the National Orchestra of Kalmykia Savr Kataev and Kutlan Mukubenov (throat singing).
Other participants include the Joint Choir of the Association of Conductors of Children's and Youth Choirs of the North-West Region under the direction of Andrey Dumchenko, the Russian Choir of the St Petersburg State Institute of Culture under the direction of Alexey Gvozdetsky and the Chamber Choir of St Petersburg University of Technology, headed by Irina Shishkina.
