Other events in Baltic States

For the first time in the Baltic States a unique joint project of Konstantin Habensky and Yuri Bashmet and ‘Moscow Soloist’ Chamber Ensemble will be presented at the Latvian National Opera stage on the 15^th April 2013. The main idea of the project is to combine classical music and text in easy and light manner.

In the first part sounds the quartet by Franz Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’ in Gustav Mahler’s arrangement for string orchestra. During this music Konstantin Habenskiy reads passage from famous play of A. Camus ‘Caligula’. In the second part of the concert Camille Saint-Saens suite ‘Carnival of the Animals’ – ‘Big zoological fantasy for narrator, two pianos and chamber ensemble’ will be performed. Text will be read be Konstantin Habenskiy.

During this concert Bashmet will perform as a soloist in Schubert's ‘Arpeggione’ for viola and strings. Arpeggione is a musical instrument – designed in 1823 by Austrian Johann Georg Stauffer – is a certain mix of classical guitar with a violoncello. However, this musical instrument was not popular for long time. And later Schubert’s sonata was performed on violoncello or viola and ‘Apperggione’ became the title of sonata.

As Bashmet told earlier, it is a long-standing friendship that connected him to Habenkiy. On one of the joint performance of Bashmet and Habenskiy idea to fill ‘Caligula’ with music was born. It also worth to mention that on 1998 Habenskiy already tried image of ‘Calligula’ in eponymous play by Yuri Butusov. This performance became genius sensation in theatrical St. Petersburg. Dramatic effect of ‘Camus’ becomes even stronger in combination with string quartet by Schubert ‘Death and the Maiden’, as well as charisma of two great artists – Konstantin Habenskiy and Yuri Beshmet.

Joint performances of Habenskiy and Bashmet for more than two years gather full halls in Russia and abroad. At the same time, absolutely new and innovative programme created by Bashment and Habenskiy in which Saint-Saens, Schubert and Mahler enter into a dialogue with Camus, while music and text sounds on equal terms was awarded by Oleg Yankovskiy prize.

Both critics and specialists mark Bashmet and Habenskiy joint project as truly unique. High level of music play in combination with exquisite reading of Konstantin Habenskiy is creating new inflections and meanings.

Project Sponsor – Production Company ‘ART Forte’, General Information Partner – First Baltic Channel.

Tickets can be purchased in Latvian National Opera and ‘Biļešu paradīze’ trade spots, www.bilesuparadize.lv