Novosibirsk has always been renowned for its long and proud tradition of string playing. Among the many talents to have emerged from Novosibirsk are the violinists Maxim Vengerov and Vadim Repin, who have gone on to establish themselves at the top international level. Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble that continues these proud traditions, consists of some of the most talented young musicians in the city of Novosibirsk. It was created in the 1990's, and has quickly established itself as one of the most respected and beloved ensembles in Russia.
The Artistic Director of Novosibirsk Chamber Orchestra is Maestro Alexander Polishchuk, one of Russia's brightest talents. Under his leadership the orchestra has established itself with a strong reputation on the highest artistic level in Russia and abroad. The orchestra regularly invites internationally renowned soloists and conductors, and has a special relationship with many of them, who enjoy returning to Novosibirsk to work with the orchestra. Among the many musicians that the orchestra works with are I. Frolov (Moscow), D. Iorio (Great Britain), M. Lethiec (France), A. Rabinovitch (Switzerland), M. Drobinsky (France), S. Roldugin (St. Petersburg), I. Ioff (St. Petersburg) and G. Kegelmann (Germany).
Subscription concerts are always sold out, and they have managed to attract audiences of both young and old. Programmes are often innovative and unusual, and this has brought in a new public of non-traditional concertgoers, especially from the younger generation. A recent highlight was a crossover concert with Guy Barker and his Jazz Quartet. The concerts, something very new for the Novosibirsk public, were a great success publicly and critically. The quartet was very impressed by the quality of the orchestra, Guy Barker himself calling the orchestra "fantastic", and will return in the future.
The NPCO is also very active in the promotion of young artists, and gives regular opportunities to young soloists to perform with the orchestra. In 2003 the orchestra worked in cooperation with the Carl Nielsen Competition in Denmark, inviting the winner, Pirmin Grehl of Germany, to Novosibirsk for a number of concerts with the Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra has also initiated and participated in many international projects in Novosibirsk, recently giving the opening concert for the Year of Culture of Germany in Russia in January 2004, as well as organising a Swedish Festival and an English Music Festival in Novosibirsk.
With a busy touring schedule, the orchestra has become highly respected internationally. They are regular guests to France and Switzerland, and other recent tours have taken the orchestra to Germany, Belgium, Austria, Yugoslavia and Spain. The orchestra, together with its Chief Conductor Alexander Polishchuk, recently became the first-ever Russian orchestra to open the 52nd "Pablo Casals" Festival in Prades, France. There are 2 concert tours in Europe planned for the season 2005-2006.
In the season 2004-2005 the musicians of the orchestra presented many interesting programs, where various music was executed : from baroque composers (Telemann), Vienna classics, French impressionists (Ravel), Russian and West-European composers (Mendelssohn, Glinka) to modern authors (Britten, Prokofiev, Shnitke, Shoenberg, Piazzolla, Gershwin, Cancelli).
Concerning plans of the Chamber orchestra in the new season 2005-2006 include: the concerts devoted to the jubilee of Mozart as well as the concert performance of his opera "Les Noces de Figaro", realization of the great project "Days of Danish music in Novosibirsk", world premier of the concert for two marimbas and chamber orchestra and many other significant events.
"The interpretation of the Divertimento, under the graceful direction of the young conductor, was very Mozart at its best, especially during the third movement which was full of fantasy. The well balanced ensemble, enthusiasm of the musicians, and the dynamic direction made this divertissemente shine..." (INDEPENDENT, 23 August 2002)
Alexander Polishchuk
Conductor
Alexander Polishchuk, born in 1960, is one of the most exciting conducting talents to come out of Russia in recent years.
A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Polishchuk first graduated from Kiev State Conservatoire before moving to St.Petersburg to study with the great pedagogue Professor Ilya Musin. During this time he won 3rd Prize at the prestigious All Union Conducting Competition (USSR, 1988). This led to numerous engagements in Russia and former Soviet Union, including concerts with St.Petersburg Philharmonics and St.Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, Novosibirsk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Russian National Orchestra, guest conducting Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre etc.
From 1991 to 1994 Polishchuk was Chief Conductor of St.Petersburg Municipal Symphony Orchestra and from 1996 to 1999 Chief Conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra, St.Petersburg. During this period he also held the position of Principal Guest Conductor of Russian Chamber Orchestra of London. He conducted the first production at Covent Garden Opera Theatre after its re-opening in December 1999.
He has toured in Germany, Great Britain, France, Japan, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Taiwan and Holland.
Alongside his work as a conductor, Alexander Polishchuk is a highly respected conducting teacher. Since 1993 he has been Professor of Conducting at St.Petersburg State Music Conservatoire and Artistic Director of the "Peter the Great" International Masterclasses in St.Petersburg. Alongside his work there, he has given masterclasses in Finland, Sweden and at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland. From 1998 to 1999 he was Guest Professor of Conducting at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm, Sweden.
He has been named Artistic Director of Novosibirsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Under his artistic direction the projects of the Festival Orchestra, composed by the best musicians of Novosibirsk are realized (2001, 2002, 2003). These projects are much appreciated at the famous French festivals.
From the recent events the concert in the frame of the Festival "Stars of White Nights" conducted by Alexander Polishchuk and Valery Gergiev should be mentioned, as well as the concert with the St.Petersbourg Philharmonic conducted by Polishchuk orchestra in April 2005 and masterclasses in Singapore in December 2005.
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