This month Yuri Simonov is touring the UK with his orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic. As their Musical Director for 21 years he has seen standards reach the highest level and as well as the current tour, he leads the orchestra in concerts in Germany later this season in Berlin, Munich, Mannheim and Nuremberg.
Programmes reflect Simonov's great abilities in conducting Russian orchestral showpieces and the towering 10th Symphony of Shostakovich.
In 1968, Simonov was the first Soviet conductor allowed to enter a foreign conductors' competition, the Santa Cecilia (Rome) in which he won 1st prize.. He was immediately appointed Chief Conductor of the Bolshoi Theatre - the youngest ever - where he presided over the golden period 1970 - 1985. After years of guest conducting with the worlds greatest orchestras (Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic among others), he has remained, like his mentor Evgeny Mravinsky with a single orchestra, his 'instrument': the Moscow Philharmonic.
The details of the tour are as follows:
9 October St. David’s Hall, Cardiff
Tchaikovsky: Marche Slave
Rakhmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 4. Peter Donohoe
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake excerpts
Khatchaturian: Gayeneh excerpts
10 October Cadogan Hall, London
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Rakhmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2. Alexandra Dariescu
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake excerpts
Khatchaturian: Gayeneh excerpts
11 October Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Rakhmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2. Alexandra Dariescu
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10
13 October Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Rakhmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2. Alexandra Dariescu
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10
15 October Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Antal: Event Horizon
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1. Alexandra Dariescu
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10