The Harp: from Baroque to Jazz concert successfully held today at the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy
On April 10 the Museum Quarter at Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Centre hosted a concert entitled «The Harp: from Baroque to Jazz» as part of an open Harp Today festival. The concert of the chamber ensemble of harpists Espressivo was made possible through the support of the Russian Society of Harpists, Department of Culture of Moscow, the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music, the Schubert Children’s Music School and the College of Music and Theatre Arts.
The concert was opened by Natalia Shameyeva, Honored Artist of Russia, Professor of the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music, Honored Cultural Figure of Russia, Ph.D., Board member of the Russian Society of Harpists, Russian representative at the International Congress of harpists Board of Directors, concertmaster of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Harp Division, for more than 30 years. Natalia talked about what a harp is and how it became a musical instrument.
The first part started with Turlough O’Carolan’s Miss McDermott and «Farewell of Carolan with music» performed by Valeria Pchyolina. The audience literally froze, hearing the subtle sounds of the harp strings. It is worth noting that from the very beginning to the end of the concert, each number was accompanied by a standing ovation. In the first part the guests especially liked the Sarabande from Bach’s Lute Suite № 1 performed by Svetlana Morozova and the Prelude and Ballet from Partita 17th century by an unknown author performed by Elina Moruz. The first part closed with Alina Alekseyeva who struck the audience with three stories for the harp — folk fairy tale «Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka», Russian heroic epic «Bylina about Vasilisa Mikulishna» and «Guslyar Sadko in the Underwater Kingdom».
The second part was played almost by the soloists of Espressivo represented by Ye. Pavlova, M. Kulakova, V. Belyayeva, Z. Treschina, T. Shesterkova, M. Chakrygina and D. Kolupayeva. Within the walls of the Museum the visitors listened to great musical masterpieces such as «Rhapsody» by M. Grandjany, «Chariots of Fire» by Vangelis, «Ebb and Flow» by S. Maierza, as well as the music by Ennio Morricone for «The Professional» movie, and Nino Rota for the film «Romeo and Juliet», and many others.
In the end the visitors staged a real ovation to the artists. By popular demand the harpist concert will be held in the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy again. Follow the news on our website.
The next Sunday you are all welcome to a concert by Sergei Arkhangelsky, the soloist of the the Moscow Pedagogical Philharmonic Society.
The concert was led by Natalia Shameyeva, Honored Artist of Russia, Professor of the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music, Honored Cultural Figure of Russia, Ph.D., Board member of the Russian Society of Harpists, Russian representative at the International Congress of harpists Board of Directors, concertmaster of the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, Harp Division, for more than 30 years
The young ensemble of «Espressivo»
In the second part — a marvelous sounding of the three harps accompanied by other musical instruments
Guests of the concert