About
Novosibirsk Academic Symphony Orchestra has been well-known outside Siberia for a very long time. It has become a cultural wealth of not only the city of Novosibirsk and the Siberian region but the whole Russia. According to some critics, musicians and audience, the orchestra can be rated at the same level as the orchestras of Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. It is one of the most splendid orchestras at present: and the way these outstanding musicians play Sheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov in the second part is just dazzling. Arnold Kats achieves maximum with his orchestra with minimum of gestures in Nice-Matin.
Novosibirsk Academic Philharmonic Orchestra was set up in 1956 and headed by Professor Arnold Kats, the People's Artist of the USSR, laureate of the National Award of Russia. Till Arnold Kats’ death in January 2007, the Orchestra had toured to cities and towns across the country and participated in numerous international musical festivals: White Nights in Leningrad, Russian Winter in Moscow, Christmas Night, Russian music festival in Vienna, National Day in Bulgaria, Bernstein music festival, Erlangen Festival in Germany (1999), Piano Festival in France (1995,1996), Iberia Music Festival in Spain, Classic Music Festival in Cannes, France (1996), Spivakov Music Festival in Colmar and many others.
The great event that was considered as an apotheosis of the jubilee year as well as the most important one in orchestra history took place on June 8th, 2006. The Novosibirsk Symphony Orchestra was invited to the I Festival of World Symphony Orchestras, devoting to the state holiday The Day of Russia.
In the unique performance held for the first time and organized by Russian symphony and chamber orchestras association in the Column Hall of Dom Sojuzov, Novosibirsk Symphony Orchestra under the direction of A.Kats performed among the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Z.Meta), the Toskanini Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by L.Maazel), Academia of St.Martin in the fields (conducted by K.P. Flor), the Philharmonic orchestra of Radio France (conducted by M.V. Chung). Carmen suite by Schedrin-Bizet and the Fifth Symphony by Tchaikovsky were performed. The President of Russia Vladimir Putin was present at the concert.
The orchestra has made international tours in Austria (1993, 1997), Belgium (1994, 1998, 2008), Bulgaria (1970, 1989), Croatia (1993), England (1988,1992, 1994, 1995), Finland (1981), France (1992,1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2008), Germany (1989, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1999), Holland (1994), Italy (1978, 1982, 1991, 1996, 1999), Japan (1997, 2001), Luxembourg (1998), Portugal (1990), Scotland (1988,1992, 1995), Slovakia (1999), Spain (1990, 1994, 1996, 2006), Switzerland ( 1996, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2008), Yugoslavia (1986, 1990).
The orchestra has performed in many concert halls, such as Great Philharmonic Hall in Moscow, Concert Hall named after P.I. Tchaikovsky, Great Hall of the State Academic Philharmonic named after Shostakovich in St.Petersbourg, Conservatoire Verdi Hall in Milan, Salle Pleyel in Paris, Congress Palace, Debussi Hall in Cannes, Beethoven Hall (the opening of Hall) in Nantes, Beethoven Hall in Stuttgart, Alte Oper in Frankfurt, Schauspielhaus, Liederhalle in Berlin, Schubert Hall in Vienn, Auditorio Nacional de Madrid in Madrid, Coliseo dos recrezio in Lissabon, Stravinsky Auditorium in Montreux, Royal Festival Hall in London, Royale Concert Hall in Glasgow, Opera City Concert Hall in Opera City Concert Hall, Kitara Hall in Sapporo, Festival Hall in Helsinki and many others.
The orchestra has played more than five thousand concerts, including music ranging from Bach and pre-Bach period to the present: Vienna classics, German romantics, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Skryabin, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Schnitke, Sviridov, Gubaidulina, Denisov, Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky, Schubert, R.Strauss, Bruckner, Mahler, Eives, Varez — the list could be continued.
The orchestra has been conducted by many world-famous conductors, such as V.Gergiev, D.Kitaenko, K.Kondrashin, D.Liss, K.Penderetsky, G.Rozhdestvensky, V.Spivakov, M.Yansons, and soloists like D.Bashkirov, Yury Bashmet, B. Davidovich, Julia Fisher, E.Gilels, N.Gutman, L.Isakadze, Oleg Kagan, Leonid Kogan, N.Lugansky, M.Maisky, D.Oistrach, M.Ovrutsky, M.Pletnev, V.Repin, S.Richter, M.Rostropovich, Grigory Sokolov, V.Spivakov, M.Vengerov, E.Virsaladze (people above are listed in alphabetic order) and many other outstanding musicians who play orchestra.