The members of this orchestra set a new standard in Russia’s tradition of symphonic mastery. Composed of the country’s leading symphonic virtuosos and led by the electrifying conductor and violinist Vladimir Spivakov, the National Philharmonic of Russia has quickly established itself as the finest and most exciting orchestra to emerge from Russia in many years. Their UMass Amherst program includes the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 and Romeo and Juliet, Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake, and Prokofiev’s Four Pieces from Romeo and Juliet Suites.
Music Samples
Sunday, April 19
Concert Hall 7:00 pm
$45, $35, $15; Five College Students and Youth 17 and under $15
Superb! Four encores! How many American orchestras would do that?
Bring them back!
Bring them back!
One of the most enjoyable evenings ever at FAC! A great orchestra and great conductor gave us much more than we expected, and showed us why communication through music transcends geography, politics, and language. What was most refreshing was how we could feel the musicians’ joy and enthusiasm throughout the performance, and especially during the encores. We would love to see them again.
I am a big fan of Maestro Spivakov. It was my 3rd visit of his consert. Enjoed every moment of it! Definetely bring them back!
Kudos to the Philharmonic! I LOVED the concert. It was great to hear both ‘Romeo & Juliet’ pieces in the same night. Prokofiev’s is one of my favorite ballets, and it has been ages since I have treated myself to the symphony.
They were great. I know it’s pricey to have an orchestra but that what the FAC should be about. Skip the TV type multi- media extravaganzas and give us good classical music. Thanks, Carol K.
An absolutely stunning and memorable concert. The programming was superb. It was a joy to hear such a wonderful pianist play the, rarely performed, Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1.
Wonderful! My wife and I left the Concert Hall aware that we’d had a most memorable evening. The program was well chosen to show the manifold strengths of the orchestra and the piano concerto (unfamiliar to me) was an aural and a visual delight (perhaps not very relevant–the pianist had such beautiful hands!).
It’s wonderful to be able to see and hear a Russian orchestra, especially at a time when, surely for some of the players, their political and economic world must be so uncertain.
This is certainly the best event I’ve yet to see at the FAC during my time at UMass!
This is the best event I’ve yet to see at the FAC during my time at UMass thus far.
This is the best event I’ve seen at the FAC during my time at UMass so far.
I’ve certainly attended a large number of great events at the Fine Arts Center over the past 40+ years, but the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra was simply the best. I’ve never heard a pianist play as well as Valentina Lisitsa and Vladimir Spivakov certainly won all our hearts with his skill and his humor with the four encores.
Difficult to find words to express my response to this performance which is as it should be with musicians and music of this caliber.
I thought it will be just another orchestra, but it proved to be the best performance I ever attended. Thank you for a fantastic evening.