Russian President Putin Sets Tone For Russian Summer Cultural Season By Attending Moscow Festival Of World Symphony Orchestras

"Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a concert of Novosibirsk Symphony Orchestra, one of Russia’s best orchestras that performed in the Columned Hall in downtown Moscow Thursday night.

The performance was part of a [state-funded] festival of world symphony orchestras timed for Russia Day, a national holiday marked June 12.

Siberian musicians performed Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

This is the first time the festival is held in Moscow, and Putin supported the initiative to organize it.

After the performance, Putin thanked conductor Arnold Katz and the musicians for the rendition of the symphony, saying it was splendid.

“My congratulations on the occasion of this success,” he said addressing maestro Katz. “Thank you very much. I know you devoted so many years to this orchestra [since 1956], and the audience gave you a very warm reception today.”...

Itar Tass News Agency "Putin visits Moscow festival of symphony orchestras" June 9, 2006

http://itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=9759986&PageNum=0

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The Novosibirsk State Philharmonic Society serves Novosibirsk and the whole Siberian region; and it has been "rated at the same level as the orchestras of Moscow and Saint-Petersbourg and can successfully compete with many European orchestras".

www.philharmonia-nsk.ru/ collekt_eng/ASO/aso.htm

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Also see The Moscow Times,This Week in Arts and Ideas "[Festival] Fit for a Superpower" June 2, 2006

http://context.themoscowtimes.com/story/168373/















The Novosibirsk State Philharmonic, under Arnold Katz, its music director for 50 years, performs as a guest at the the beautiful Kitara Concert Hall, Sapporo, Japan

Photo credit: The Novosibirsk State Philharmonic. With thanks.