Moscow Premiere of Genesis Fantasia Concertante
On August 13, the Gala Concert of the 2nd International Piano Concert Festival will feature the Moscow premiere of Genesis Fantasia Concertante, Baruch Berliner’s concerto fantasy for piano and orchestra.
Dr. Berliner’s composition will be performed by pianist Vyacheslav Kiselev and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra (MSSO), conducted by Mikhail Kirchhoff.
Dr. Kiselev is a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory and its postgraduate program, where he studied under National Artist of Russia, Prof. Mikhail Voskresensky. A prizewinner of international competitions in Morocco and the United States—in New York and Dallas—he was also awarded the Presidential Scholarship of Russia in 2007 and received scholarships from the international charitable foundations of Yuri Rozum and Elina Bystritskaya. Dr. Kiselev has also appeared in concerts organized by the New Names Foundation and the Vladimir Spivakov Charitable Foundation. He maintains an extensive repertoire, performing both solo and chamber music programs on leading stages across Russia and abroad.
Mikhail Kirchhoff, laureate of the Priznanie Prize, serves as conductor of the Kaliningrad State Symphony Orchestra, chief conductor of the Moscow Youth Symphony Orchestra, and artistic director and chief conductor of the Stars of Eurasia festival. From 2010 to 2012, he led the Istanbul State Opera, from 2012 to 2017 he directed the orchestra at the Samsun State Opera, and from 2018 to 2020 he held the position of principal guest conductor of Kazakhstan’s “Academy of Soloists” State Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Kirchhoff has appeared with various orchestras across Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Latvia, Malta, Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, the United Arab Emirates, and many other countries.
One of Russia’s oldest and most esteemed orchestras, the MSSO was founded in 1943. Celebrated Soviet musicians served as its music directors: the conductor of the Bolshoy Theatre, National Artist Lev Steinberg (from 1943 to 1945), Leonid Khudoley (1945–1948), Nikolai Anosov (1948–1951), Viktor Smirnov (1951–1953), Leo Ginzburg (1953–1955), Mikhail Terian (1955–1960), Veronika Dudarova (1960–1989), and Pavel Kogan (1989–2022).
The ensemble has released a wealth of recordings, including CDs and DVDs featuring studio and live performances, as well as radio and TV broadcasts. The MSSO’s cycle of Rachmaninoff’s works published by the Alto label is widely renowned and immensely popular. The interpretations of the composer’s three symphonies and Symphonic Dances recorded by the orchestra and Maestro Kogan have achieved top rankings among all existing renditions.
Due to the diversity of programs and consistently exceptional performance, the ensemble has earned the respect and admiration of audiences domestically and internationally. Over the past twenty-five years, the MSSO has toured more than fifty countries. Each year, the orchestra performs in Moscow at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, and is featured in single-performer and themed subscription series presented by the Moscow State Academic Philharmonic. During the 2018/2019 season, the orchestra embarked on an unparalleled tour across 20 Russian cities, extending from Moscow to Vladivostok, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the ensemble.
Produced by Nachum Slutzker, General Manager of Baruch Berliner’s Genesis International Project