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The Philharmonie de Paris announces «Russian spring» – the closing concert of the Bolshoi Theatre’s tour in France. The diverse and multifaceted program of the whole tour reflects the spirit of a brief anthology of genres and styles of Russian music: from folk songs and spiritual music a cappella to Spring Cantata and second Symphony by Rachmaninoff, theater music by Sviridov, as well as concert versions of operas The Queen of Spades by Tchaikovsky and The Maid of Pskov by Rimsky-Korsakov.

In Toulouse the Bolshoi’s tour will complement a new project «Les musicales franco-russe» (the Russian-French music). This large-scale event dedicated to strengthen friendship ties between the two countries will take place at different venues all over the city. For a month (from February 22 to March 16), the French public will have a chance to experience classical music, visit film screenings, attend meetings with French and Russian musicians, writers and interpreters, participate in workshops and even to try on themselves the role of conductor. The highlight of the project is the Academy of conducting, organized by the director of the festival Maestro Sokhiev. Having been the Artistic Director of the National Orchestra of the Capitol of Toulouse/ ONCT for more than ten years, he will perform as a teacher and mentor for the first time! The Academy will be carried out for three days (from 26 to 28 February) and will conclude with a laureate’s concert where the best graduates will have a unique opportunity to stand up on on the podium in front of musicians in the first part of the concert, in the second the conductor's baton will return to Maestro Sokhiev.

The Bolshoi Theatre’s tour will be the culmination of the celebration: three concerts will be held at the main festival’s venue – Halle aux Grains. The Bolshoi’s Choir will present a program successfully performed at the Berliner Philharmoniker earlier this year (for which the Bolshoi’s Choir was nominated for the prestigious International Opera Awards). Two iconic Russian operas will follow – The Queen of Spades, which is one of the most performed Russian pieces, and a largely unknown The Maid of Pskov by Rimsky-Korsakov. The French audience is familiar with another title of this opera – Ivan le Terrible/ Ivan the Terrible. Under this title it was first introduced to Paris by Diaghilev, included Feodor Chaliapin as Ivan the Terrible. And this year will mark the 110th anniversary of its Paris premiere.

The Maid of Pskov will first sound in Toulouse (March 15) and the next day will go to conquer the avant-garde interiors of the Philharmonie de Paris. The leading soloist of the Bolshoi Opera Company will sing the main parts in The Queen of Spades: Anna Nechaeva (as Liza), Agunda Kulaeva (as Poulina), Elena Manistina (as The Countess), Igor Golovatenko (as Prince Yeletsky), Oleg Dolgov (as Herman). The Maid of Pskov will be performed by Stanislav Trofimov (as Tsar Ivan Vasilevich the Terrible; Mariinsky Theatre), Dinara Alieva (as Princess Olga), Ilya Selivanov (as Mikhailo Tucha) and others.