Performers
Performers at Russian Rhapsody 2007 include:
Denis Matsuev
Denis Matsuev has been described as one of the world's greatest living pianists. The Irkutsk-born star has given concerts throughout the world, and has played with the world's greatest conductors. The West Deutsche Zeitung has commented that "Matsuev possesses phenomonal talents. His playing gives one a basis for believing that a new star has appeared in the firmament of pianists".
Mr. Matsuev has appeared in hundreds of recitals at prestigious concert halls throughout the world, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Salle Gaveau in Paris, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Musikhalle in Hamburg, Musikverein in Vienna, Royal Festival Hall in London, Great Hall of Conservatoire in Moscow, Great Hall of Philharmonie in St. Petersburg, La Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera City in Tokyo. He has given brilliant performances in numerous festivals including the Russian Winter Festival in Moscow, Andrew Lloyd Webber Festival in London, Auvers-Sur-Oise Festival and La Cote-St-Andre (Berlioz) Festival in France, Chopin Festival in Dushniki, Poland and festivals in Brazil, China, Spain, and Turkey.
In addition to winning the 1998 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Matsuev is laureate of the 1998 International Piano Competition in Paris and laureate of the 1994 International Piano Competition in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has appeared with the most prestigious Russian orchestras, including the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra under Vladimir Fedoseyev, Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Vladimir Spivakov, Russian National Orchestra under Mikhail Pletnev,, Russian State Symphony Orchestra under Valery Polyansky, Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Vedernikov, State Academic Symphony Orchestra named after Eugeny Svetlanov under direction of Mark Gorenstein, and many others. Mr. Matsuev has also appeared with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Century Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony, Utah Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Budapest Philharmonic, Warsaw National Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Bayerischer Rundfunk, and Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Denis Matsuev has toured more then 10 U.S. cities with the Russian National Orchestra led by Vladimir Spivakov, and 25 U.S. cities with the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra. Recent engagements include Festivals in Lyon, Nancy, and recitals in Paris, Moscow, Copenhagen, Sydney, Slovenia, China and Japan.
Borislav Strulev
Russian cellist Borislav Strulev is rapidly establishing a reputation as a cellist of exceptional temperament and technique. His charisma and his enormous sound have fascinated and enchanted audiences of world’s most renowned stages.
Mr. Strulev past and future appearances include Detroit Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Nazionale della RAI, WDR Symphony Orchestra- Köln, NÖ Tonkünstler in Vienna's Musikverein, Helsingborg Symphony, Orquestra de la Laguna (Tenerife), Orquestra del Principado de Asturias, NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic, Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra, Symphony orchestras of most South American capitals as well as in South Africa. Most notably he collaborated with following conductors: Neeme Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, Sebastian Weigle, Yuri Simonov, Pavel Kogan, Alexander Vedernikov, Marco Parisotto and Michael Stern.
As a recitalist Mr. Strulev had his Carnegie Hall debut in 1999 playing with legendary pianist Byron Janis. He has also been heard at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Kravis Center, Van Wezel Hall, Auditorio de Madrid and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.
This season will see the release of Mr. Strulev’s debut solo recording on French label LYRINX with sonatas of Shostakovich and Rachmaninov. The recording of concertos by Arvo Pärt, György Ligetti, and a world premiere recording of Daniel Schnyder’s concerto will follow with Norrlands Operan Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kristjan Järvi. Mr. Strulev appeared as special guest on two significant crossover recordings produced by Ettore Stratta with jazz violinist Regina Carter on “Paganini: after a dream” (Verve – Universal label) and with celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and Brazilian jazz pianist Eliane Elias on “Lost Days” (RCA – Red Seal).
New London Children’s Choir
The New London Children's Choir was formed by Ronald Corp in 1991 for boys and girls aged 7 - 18 with the specific aim of introducing children to all types of music through singing and performing. It quickly established itself as one of the Britain's leading children's choirs. The New London Children’s Choir performs regularly with all the major London orchestras, national opera companies and at the Proms. Their repertory is very varied, ranging from early music to twentieth century, and the choir has a very special commitment to commissioning new works.
The choir has a large discography and has made several film soundtracks as well as broadcasting for Classic FM, BBC Radio, and on TV. Recent foreign tours have included performances at the Lincoln Center, New York and at festivals in France, Belgium and Switzerland. Although the emphasis is always on achieving the highest possible musical standards, the rehearsal atmosphere is relaxed: "whether we are staging a little 'opera' with the training choirs, or working intensely towards a new commission with the seniors, the choir members enjoy what they are doing" "children have an amazing capacity to learn and absorb and enjoy new music . . . and to turn out superb performances"
The Zoe Rahman Sextet
Described in The Observer newspaper as "one of the finest young pianists in Europe", Zoe Rahman has firmly established herself as one of the brightest stars on contemporary jazz scene. Her most recent album, 'Melting Pot', has been short-listed for the 2006 Nationwide Mercury Prize and was voted 'Jazz Album of the Year' at the 2006 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The album has been hailed as "one of the most distinctive piano trio albums" (Jazzwise magazine), a "fantastic new album" (Courtney Pine, BBC Radio 2), and "in every way, an impressive sequel to her debut" (Jazz Review).
Her critically-acclaimed debut album, The Cynic, with drummer Winston Clifford and bassist Jeremy Brown, was short-listed for the BBC Radio 3 jazz album of the year review in 2001 and was described in Straight no Chaser magazine as "one of the best jazz albums of the year". Following the success of her debut CD, Zoe was nominated in the 'Rising Star' category of the 2001 BBC Jazz Awards. In 1999 she won the 'Perrier Young Jazz Musician of the Year' Award, which led to her recording three tracks on a Jazz FM-produced compilation, with drummer Daniel Crosby and bassist Orlando Le Fleming.
Born in Chichester, UK, Zoe studied music at Oxford University and jazz performance at Berklee College of Music, Boston, where she had lessons with the inspirational pianist JoAnne Brackeen. While in America she formed her own trio which featured bassist Joshua Davis and the renowned drummer Bob Moses. She has been the featured artist on Radio and Television programmes such as Courtney Pine's 'Jazz Crusade' on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4's 'Women's Hour', BBC London's 'Now's the Time', Andrea Oliver's 'The Selector', Northern Broadcasting Internet Radio, Resonance FM and Julian Joseph's Jazz series for Meridian Television. She has performed live on the BBC World Service and on Radio 3's 'In Tune' and music from her Melting Pot album has also been featured on BBC Radio 3's 'Jazz Record Requests'.
Aside from working with her own groups, she continues to perform, record and tour (both in the UK and internationally) with a diverse range of other artists, most recently: Clark Tracey's New Quintet; Reem Kelani; Soothsayers; Tony Bianco; Steve Williamson; JazzXchange Dance Company; Nyika Goremsandu; Netsayi Chigwendere; Gary Boyle; Keziah Jones (2003/4 European tours); David Walcott (2003 Festival, Barbados); Mekaal Hasan (2001 tour, Pakistan). She has co-written a jazz-based theatre show 'I'm a Fool to Want You', about the French writer/musician Boris Vian, with 'Told by an Idiot' Theatre Company (UK / South American tours 2003-2005).
Other recent albums/DVDs include: Reem Kelani Sprinting Gazelle; Clark Tracey Quintet The Calling and The Mighty Sas; Tony Bianco In A Western Sense; Gary Boyle Games; Soothsayers Tangled Roots; Brigitte Escobar Brigitte; Terry Hall/Mushtaq's The Hour of Two Lights; Keziah Jones Live at the Elysee Montmartre DVD.
Incognito
Over a 27-year career, London-based Mobo Award winners Incognito have delivered a polished blend of electronic grooves, Neo-Soul vocals, and elaborate studio orchestration. They fuse harmonies often recalling the jazzy soul of Stevie Wonder (whose "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing" was a hit for them in 1992) with a mix of Funk, Electro, and Latin rhythms.
Incognito are considered one of the true pioneers of the early Jazz Funk Scene. The nucleus of the group is Jean Paul 'Bluey' Maunick. Bluey's original musical colleague in the band was Paul 'Tubs' Williams, along with a changing collection of friends and associates including Ganiyu 'Gee' Bello, Ray Carless, Jef Dunn, Vin Gordon and Peter Hinds. Incognito began their trip to popularity when a demo single, 'Parisienne Girl', received such strong club and radio support that it was made an official release, charting at number 73 in the UK charts in 1980.
During the 1990's, at the request of Talking Loud Records, Incognito began a renaissance. This time, a variety of guest singers were included in the line-up. 'Always There' (1991) featured the vocals of Jocelyn Brown, and was also remixed by David Morales. It reached number 6 in the UK charts. The album 'Positivity' sold 350,000 copies in the USA, a blossoming market where Bluey was also beginning to enjoy success as a producer (Ray Simpson, Chaka Khan, George Benson). For 1995's fifth album the new vocal recruits were Joy Malcolm (ex-Young Disciples) and Pamela Anderson (a relative of sisters Carleen and Jhelisa Anderson). 1999's, 'No Time Like The Future' became highly popular on Jazz FM's playlist in the U.K. with 'Marrakech' highlighting. The group also recorded under the title 'Inner Shade', releasing an album entitled '4 Corners', which was released on Expansion Records in the UK. In 2001, a new album was released entitled 'Life Stranger Than Fiction'. In 2003, Incognito released 'Who Needs Love' on the excellent U.K. label, Dome Records. The following year the album, 'Adventures In Black Sunshine' was released on the same label.
