The St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Lande, Conductor, Dmitry Kouzov, Cello

Program

Glinka:               Overture to "Ruslan and Ludmila"

Shostakovich:     Cello Concerto No. 1

Tchaikovsky:      Symphony No. 5, F-minor

About the Artists

St. Petersburg State Academic Symphony Orchestra

The orchestra was established in 1967. Its first leaders were outstanding masters of the Leningrad conducting school: Nikolai Rabinovich, Karl Eliasberg, and Edward Grikurov. The well-considered repertoire policy of performing seldom-played opuses of different musical styles and nations, and eager attention to music of living composers also defined the orchestra's name: from the day of its origination and until 1985 it was called "Orchestra of Ancient and Modern Music." The brightest moments for the ensemble of that period are related to the name of conductor Edward Serov who headed the orchestra for 15 years. It was under his baton that the "Orchestra of Ancient and Modern Music" traveled to hundreds of cities of the Soviet Union and many countries of the world with its concerts, recorded dozens of LPs for the Soviet Melodia label, participated in the most prestigious festivals, and firmly ranked as Leningrad's third after the two famous philharmonic orchestras. Renowned soloists and conductors such as Yuri Temirkanov, Maris Jansons, Svyatoslav Richter, Natalia Gutman, Elena Obraztsova, Grigory Sokolov, and many others performed with the orchestra in those days.

In 1985, the minor symphony list of the orchestra extended to a full symphony scale. Considering the important role played by the ensemble in Leningrad's artistic life, it was given the rank of Leningrad State Orchestra. From that same year till 2004, talented musician Ravil Martynov was the orchestra's chief conductor. Under his leadership, the active touring activity of the orchestra began in its post-Soviet Russian period. Since 1990, the orchestra has been successfully touring in China, Japan, Germany, Austria, Mexico, Spain, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France, and Belgium.

In 1988, the orchestra started its performances in the Mirror Hall of the famous Princes Beloselsky-Belozersky Palace in the very heart of St. Petersburg, soon regaining the status of one of the city's best concert venues to the hall.

The orchestra's repertoire is really limitless, being a kind of its "visiting card". They perform music of every epoch, genre, and style, with many premiere performances of opuses by today's composers. For efficient creative activity and excellent professionalism, and for promotion of Russian art abroad, the orchestra was given the honorary title of "Academic", which is only awarded in Russia to select musical collectives.

In the fall of 2009, Vladimir Lande debuted as the Music Director and Conductor of the Contemporary American Music Festival in Washington, D.C. Maestro Lande led the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra through their summer 2009 and 2010 seasons, following earlier concerts and a Compact Disc Recording in December 2008. He recorded six more Compact Discs in June and July (2010) with the St. Petersburg Symphony (two of them for Naxos). Recordings include several Contemporary American pieces, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, and music by Shostakovich. In 2010-2011 seasons, Vladimir Lande is scheduled to perform with the Donetsk Ballet Company in the United States. He will also return to record and conduct performances with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra. Vladimir Lande's recent Compact Discs with the St Petersburg Symphony were released in 2007 and 2008 under the Arabesque Label (Contemporary American Music) and Kleos (featuring renowned Saxophonist, Gary Louie as a soloist) to great critical acclaim. In the fall of 2010, Vladimir Lande has recorded a large cycle of instrumental concerti with the St. Petersburg Symphony and world-renown soloist Eugene Ugorski. In October of 2011, Maestro Lande will lead the St. Petersburg Symphony on their tour of the United States (including a performance at Alice Tully Hall), Mexico (including Servantino Festivale ), and South America (including Teatro Colon Buenos Aires). In the winter of 2011, he is scheduled to release five more compact discs with the St. Petersburg Symphony. His recent Compact Disc Music of Respighi and Castelnuovo-Tedesco with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra was released in September 2009 on the Marquis Label. Maestro Lande's recent tours have taken him to New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom (including a performance in Cathedral St. Martin's in the Field, London), Italy, Russia, and most of the United States. In addition to his busy conducting schedule, Maestro Lande has maintained a successful solo and chamber music career as an oboist. He is a member of the renowned Poulenc Trio .

A versatile performer, cellist Dmitry Kouzov has performed on five continents with orchestras, in solo and duo recitals, and in chamber music performances. He has appeared with such orchestras as the St. Petersburg Symphony (Russia), as well as National Symphony of Ukraine, and the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic (Czech Republic), and the Symphony Orchestra “Classica” (Russia), to name a few. He has awarded First Prize at the International Beethoven Competition in the Czech Republic and he is a two-time laureate of the International Festival-Competition “Virtuosi of the Year 2000” in Russia and is winner of the New York Cello Society Rising Star Award. His credits include numerous performances at many prominent concert venues throughout his native Russia, including both St. Petersburg Philharmonic Halls, the conservatoire halls of Moscow and St. Petersburg, respectively, and the Mariinsky Theater. Mr. Kouzov made his New York orchestral debut at Alice Tully Hall in 2005, under the baton of Maestro Raymond Leppard. Since that time, he has also made recital appearances in New York at 92nd Street Y and Bargemusic.

Highlights of Mr. Kouzov recent seasons include his debuts with the the Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic, solo appearances with the chamber orchestra “Soloists of St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society”, duo recitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg with all Brahms and Beethoven Sonatas with the prominent Russian pianist Peter Laul, and chamber music appearances at the Ravinia and Caramoor Festivals Rising Stars Series. Most recently, Mr. Kouzov made his recording debut on Naxos with three C.P.E. Bach Gamba Sonatas and a recital CD “Two Hundred Years of Cello Masterpieces” on Marquis Classics.

Mr. Kouzov has appeared in command performances before Mikhail Gorbachev and Prince Andrew, Duke of York. In 2005 and 2006, he was a guest artist at the Verbier Festival, International Bach Festival (Switzerland) and Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (Germany). Additionally, he has performed at the “May of Janacek” International Festival (Czech Republic), and at the “Art-November” International Festival (Russia), and the “Kiev Summer Music Nights” International Festival, amongst others.

A consummate chamber musician, Mr. Kouzov has collaborated with Joshua Bell, Yuri Bashmet, Krzysztof Penderecki, Donald Weilerstein, Ilya Gringolts, and Pacifica Quartet among others. Mr. Kouzov is a founding and active member of the Manhattan Piano Trio, with whom he has toured extensively throughout United States and captured First Prizes at the Plowman and Yellow Springs National Chamber Music Competitions.

In addition to his concert activities, Mr. Kouzov is a devoted teacher. Currently Mr. Kouzov is an Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of Illinois. Prior to this appointment he was on faculty at the Juilliard School and Oberlin Conservatory. Mr. Kouzov holds Bachelors & Masters of Music degrees from the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, and Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School in New York. His principal teachers have included Professors Mark Reizenshtock, Victoria Yagling, Joel Krosnick, and Darrett Adkins.