“Jacob’s Dream” Cello Concerto: Minsk, October 19
On October 19, the Grand Hall of the Belarusian State Philharmonic in Minsk will host a performance of Baruch Berliner’s Jacob’s Dream concerto as part of the Classics Without Borders concert series. The composition will be presented by the renowned cellist Alexander Ramm and the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Belarus led by principal conductor Alexander Anisimov, a National Artist of Belarus, and conductor Mikhail Kirchhoff.
A winner of the 14th International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2015, Alexander Ramm has excelled at numerous contests, including the Cambridge International Competition (US), the UNISA International String Competition (South Africa), the Beijing International Music Competition (China), and the Paulo Cello Competition (Helsinki, Finland). He has been honored with the President of the Russian Federation Award for his contribution to the country’s music scene as a performer and popularizer.
He graduated from the Chopin Music College in Moscow under Maria Zhuravleva and later earned a degree from the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory under Natalia Shakhovskaya. Dr. Ramm completed his doctoral studies at the School of Music Hanns Eisler Berlin under the supervision of Hans Helmerson.
He has toured many cities in Russia, Lithuania, Sweden, Austria, Finland, South Africa, Japan, France, and Bulgaria. He has had solo performances at the world’s most esteemed venues—Brucknerhaus in Linz, the Nikkei Hall in Tokyo, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Mariinsky Theater Concert Hall, and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, to name a few. The cellist has collaborated with many acclaimed conductors, including Constantine Orbelian, Vladimir Spivakov, Valery Gergiev, Alexander Sladkovsky, and Vladimir Polyansky. Dr. Ramm has performed with the Yevgeny Svetlanov Russian State Symphony Orchestra, the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia, the Cape Town and Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestras, among many other ensembles.
The country’s oldest and leading music ensemble, the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Belarus, was established in April 1927. In 1937, it was incorporated into the Belarusian State Philharmonic. Its repertoire is extensive and diverse, ranging from classical symphonic music of the 18th–20th centuries to works by contemporary Belarusian, Russian, and Western European composers. Per season, the orchestra performs up to 50 concert programs in Minsk and across Belarus.
The orchestra is frequently featured at music festivals within the country and internationally, having toured Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Finland, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Poland, Japan, England, and China. The principal conductor and musical director of the orchestra is Alexander Anisimov, who doubles as a guest conductor at the Bolshoi Theater of Belarus.
Mr. Anisimov is a winner of the State Prize of Belarus and a recipient of the Francysk Skaryna Medal. Holding the title of a Meritorious Arts Professional of Russia, he received the country’s Golden Mask theater award in 2005 and the Legend theater award in 2018. His renown is truly international: he is an Honorary Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, holds an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the National University of Ireland, serves as President of Ireland’s Wagner Society, and is a Commander of the French Republic’s Order of Merit.
The unfailing producer of Baruch Berliner’s concerts is Nachum Slutzker (Israel).
The concert will start at 7:00 p.m.