Dear Friends!
Welcome to the Sixth Annual Arts Square International Winter Festival.
This year, the festival is dedicated to the 165th anniversary of the Noble Assembly’s Hall, known today as the Grand Hall of the Philharmonia. During the days of the Noble Assembly, the hall was home not only to grand society balls and charitable events, but also magnificent concerts. Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, Wagner, Liszt, and many other great musicians performed in this very hall.
During our festival you will hear outstanding performers including American pianist Andre Watts, Tchaikovsky Competition Prize winner Freddy Kempf, violinist Nikolai Znaider, conductor Roberto Benzi, soprano Anna Netrebko, and tenor Evgeny Akimov. Adhering to our tradition of introducing young talent, this year we have invited violinist Alexandra Soumm from France to the festival to make her Russian debut. The Peter Schaufuss Ballet Company from Denmark will provide this year’s ballet genre. For the first time ever, the festival includes a theatre production – Moliere’s Don Juan, staged in the historic Komissarzhevskaya Theater.
The State Russian Museum, our festival partner, will open two exhibitions. The first is called “Ecclesiastical St. Petersburg” while the second is an exhibition dedicated to Tatyana Mavrina, famous for her wonderful illustrations for children’s books and Pushkin’s tales.
The hospitable Grand Hotel Europe will, as usual, receive our guests and soloists. The New Year’s Ball, once again at the Yusupov Palace, will enchant you with a concert, dinner, dancing, fireworks and other surprises.
I hope that all of us – both guests and performers – will enjoy our time at the festival and will acquaint ourselves with wonderful people and beautiful art.
Sincerely yours,
Yuri Temirkanov
Artistic Director,
The D.D.Shostakovich St. Petersburg Philharmonia
Artistic Director of the Festival