2005 Performers
Yuri Bashmet
Viola
Violist Yuri Bashmet, "without doubt one of the world's greatest living musicians" (The Times)will headline another impressive list of top performers, including a rare London appearance by the Moscow Soloists. Composed of musicians nominated by professors at the Moscow Conservatory as the cream of the new generation of string players, the Moscow Soloists are known for their "astonishing precision and refinement" (The Independent).
Pelageya
Pelageya has been ranked the best among new rock groups that appeared in 2004, however, Pelageya, the lead singer, believes her style to be folk. She does not settle on any specific style - her music includes a rock-n-roll version of the Russian folk song Valenki, ritual shaman rhythms, and regular hard rock guitar passages. All of a sudden, she may turn to Russian Orthodox chants while citing rock-n-roll classics, and then pay a tribute to pagan melodies. Jazz and city romance are yet another genre employed by Pelageya, so don't be surprised. One thing you may be sure of: The audience is invariably swept away by her sincere, pure voice, Pelageya's fervor and ardor casting a spell on the public. Not surprisingly, no singing teacher dares give her instruction, afraid to spoil her unique style.
The charming 17-year-old was born in Siberia. Her traditionally Russian, outmoded name is no stage name - she was indeed christened Pelageya. Her mother, a professional theater director, says that as a toddler, Pelageya would repeat her lullabies tune for tune. A child prodigy, she first came on stage when she was four, at an avant-garde art exhibition her mother took part in. Competing in a number of contests and participating in a UN-sponsored international program, Pelageya has performed in Russia's best concert halls, singing romances and popular folk songs.
Her big break came in 1998 after she was featured in Antropologia (Anthropology), a live TV show. Incredibly, the 11-year-old singer was invited by none other than President Yeltsin. For the first time since WWII, French, German, and Russian leaders were to confer, and Pelageya's solo concert was part of the program! After the concert Yeltsin was seen wiping a tear and Jacques Chirac called the young singer "a Russian Edith Piaf." During St. Petersburg's tricentennial celebrations, Pelageya performed before a crowd of thousands.
A legend was born. Pelageya has been a sensation ever since, and works with the best bands and musicians to this day. Her new program juxtaposes contrasting compositions, ranging from meditative to dramatic to orthodox to entertaining. Pelageya believes traditional Russian music deserves a right to be reconceived and interpreted in a new way. The singer was complimented even by fierce rocker Yuri Shevchuk, who is known for his particular predilection for Russian music.
Helikon Opera
Founded in 1990 by director/producer, Dmitry Bertman, and conductor, Kiril Tikhonov, the Helikon Opera performs classic and avant-garde operas, many of which have been national and world premieres.
The Theater comprises a creative and staging group that includes artists; a ballet master and stage movement coach; an ensemble of soloists, many of whom are international competition prize-winners; and a symphony orchestra and choir which, in addition to their Helikon repertoire performances, give their own concerts on some of Moscow's most prominent stages.
In addition to its performances in its Moscow home, Helikon has performed in the opera theatres of Great Britain, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Lebanon, Slovenia, and Israel, and has mounted productions throughout the United Russian territories.
Dmitry Bertman
Artisitic Director
Bertman attended the Music Theatre Faculty of the Russian Theatrical Arts Academy (GITIS), concentrating on direction and production under National Artist of Russia, Professor G.P. Ansimov. While still a student at the GITIS, he staged performances in Moscow, Tver, and Syktyvkar, and worked as an assistant producer at the Bolshoi Theatre. As a postgraduate student at GITIS, he taught at the GITIS, at the Finnish Studio, and at the Salzburg Elizabet Buhne Theatre. Since 1994, he has supervised master classes at the Bern Opera Studio, where he trains future opera singers in the theatrical methods of Stanislavsky, Chekhov, and Chaliapin, and since 1996, he has taught a course in musical theatre production at the Russian Lunacharsky Theatrical Arts Academy. Bertman is also a teacher of Meyerhold biomechanics.
Bertman co-founded the Helikon Opera Theater in 1990. In 1995, Mr. Bertman became the first Russian opera producer ever to be invited to Ireland.
