Victory songs in Europe

The Academy’s ensemble of contemporary choir music Altro coro directed by Alexander Ryzhinskii had performed in cities of Europe with shows dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. Concerts took place in 4 cities — Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany.

«This tour is an Easter miracle — says artistic director, conductor of Altro coro, rector of the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music Alexander Ryzhinskii. — Today, to present our native songs of war time in countries with whom relations are pretty tense nowadays is a very responsible mission. But it happened, thanks to help from the Federal Agency of FSU collaborations, “Uralsib” bank, LUKOIL and employees of the Academy».

Ensemble performed special tour program: famous «Leningrad’s book» of Alexander Flyarkovsky, «Four choirs onto Tvardovsy lyrics» by Rodion Schedrin, and world premiere of «Symphony of the Great Victory» for choir and piano — wartime songs suite, arranged by Kuzma Bodrov. This cycle contains melodies of legendary songs, such as «At the unknown height», «Dark night», «Katyusha» and others. The tour began at the Russian house in Rome, continued in the United Nations department in Geneva and in the Russian house in Brussels. Also, Altro coro performed in the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Belgium, Russian general-consulate in Bonne and in the Russian house in Berlin.

At one point the choir should have been visiting Hague, but the concert was canceled. The Press center of the Russian Embassy in Hague told, that it happened because of fabricated anti-Russian ideas, imposed on the people of Holland. To quote from the Press-center: «This was a decision of a private theater, but it is aligned with the whole anti-Russian politics of the Netherlands». Alexander Ryzhinskii added: «Message from the accepting side: We're canceling it, because your program is under sanctions, — it speaks for itself! This message shows that the cancellation of Russian culture is not some myth, it is a harsh reality of some countries». Rector highlighted how this decision precisely describes not only political, but also the moral state of several places in the World. «Songs of our fathers and grandfathers about peace, love and freedom from the Nazis under sanctions today», — he told.

Nonetheless, in other European cities Altro coro was greeted with welcome. After every performance different diplomates thanked the ensemble for hopeful and honest music. The concert at the Palace of Nations in Geneva was a sellout. Representatives from dozens of countries gave long applause to the Altro coro.

«It is important that today here is a full choir. This ancient art is about connection and understanding each other. And we are glad to make our humble impact to this union and memory of the heroic deeds of soviet soldiers!» — said the Rector