Yuri Bashmet unites the best youth of Russia and Belarus

The orchestra appeared in 2008, but then interrupted its activities for several years. In 2023, maestro Yuri Bashmet revived the team, and again on the best stages sounded instruments in the hands of the best youth of both countries.

The concert, held in BZK last Saturday, in its program combined the music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergey Rachmaninov – such masterpieces as the Overture to the opera “The Queen of Spades”, Pezzo capriccioso, Naples song, Polonaise from the opera “Eugene Onegin” and the Concerto for violin with the Tchaikovsky orchestra and “Symphonic dances” by Rachmaninov were performed.

Recently, the band was updated, the maestro noted that in Belarus, competitions for this orchestra among musicians are not satisfied - they trust colleagues, and in Russia, getting into the team under the direction of Yuri Abramovich is a problem with an asterisk. Interestingly, the two countries have one music school in the broadest sense, and hence a common mindset:

- I count on the return, on the fact that they understand that they are playing in a great hall, and understand what kind of team this is. These are the best musical youth in Russia and Belarus! And the music unites them. Responsible! I hope they try.

The soloists were also from two countries. Svetlana Korotchenya, a Belarusian cellist, presented her interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s music in Pezzo capriccioso. Kirill Alekperov, a young Russian trumpeter, with great attention to detail, performed the textbook “Neapolitan Dance” from “Swan Lake”.

A landmark moment of the evening was the appearance on the stage of Grant Bashmet - the grandson of the maestro. Recently, the young musician served in the army, returned to the rank of junior sergeant, even received a medal for participating in a military parade. His grandfather told the press before the start of the music evening:

- He had good conditions. Colonel Durygin, conductor, let him go on dismissals for concerts, so that while in the army, he did not lose his musical form, he gained much and grew up, became sane and disciplined. For a year, the army turned him into a man, Yuri Bashmet said.

Fun fact: Grant Bashmet took to the stage with an Italian violin, which Yuri Abramovich once bought for his grandson in Minsk. The performance of the newly-made junior sergeant Bashmet sounded the second and third part of the Concerto for violin and orchestra of Peter Tchaikovsky.

The final was bright - in another "Symphonic dances" by Sergei Rachmaninov. A beautiful point of the concert is the ellipsis in the lives of wonderful children breathing in unison with the great art of classical music.