Maslenitsa Festival
International Ballet Festival
Moscow Easter Festival
Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall
History of the Mariinsky Theatre
Traveling to St. Petersburg
Holy Dominion Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Kiev
April 19 - May 9, 2009
The Moscow Easter Festival was inaugurated in 2002 as a joint effort between Maestro Valery Gergiev of St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre and Yuri Luzhkov, the Mayor of Moscow. The festival brings together world-class performing groups and renowned soloists from various parts of Russia and Europe in an ambitious program of fully-staged operas, orchestral concerts, choral recitals, bell-ringing in Russian Orthodox churches as well as charitable concerts held in Moscow's retirement homes, orphanages, churches and public spaces. The Moscow Easter Festival is given the blessing of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russias, Alexei II. Its success has secured its place as a treasured annual event.
The Moscow Easter Festival not only presents the works of the most notable European and Russian composers of classical music but also celebrates the rich traditions of Orthodox musical history. Choirs from Russia, Eastern European and the Caucuses assemble in Moscow to showcase chant and song of liturgical music and folklore traditions. Charitable choral concerts take place in Moscow's cathedrals.
Mikhail Shvidkoi, Minister of Culture, Archbishop Istrinsky Arseniy
of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Valery Gergiev look on
as Yuri Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow opens the Moscow Easter Festival
Although it is led largely by the Mariinsky Theatre under the baton of Maestro Valery Gergiev, the Moscow Easter Festival presents outstanding performers of classical as well as traditional and folk music. Soloists appearing at the Festival include celebrated artists such as soprano Anna Netrebko and bass-baritone Bryn Terfel, pianists Yefim Bronfman, Alexander Toradze and Rafal Blechacz as well as violinists Vadim Repin, Nikolaj Znaider and Victoria Mullova.
Choral programs have included performances by award-winning choirs such as the Swedish Radio Choir, Georgia's Gori Women's Choir, the male Rustavi Folk Choir, the Choir of the Optina Pustyn Monastery of St. Petersburg, Bulgaria's Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares, West Siberia's Vdokhnoveniya Chamber Choir, Tambov Chamber Choir, as well as Russia's Choir of the Choral Arts Academy, Sirin Ensemble, St. Nikolai Church Choir of the State Tretyakov Gallery and the Chamber Choir of the Moscow Conservatory.
Valery Gergiev conducts the Mariinsky Orchestra
in St. Georges Hall, Kremlin, for invited guests
In keeping with the old custom of bells chiming throughout Moscow during the week after Easter, the Moscow Easter Festival recreates this ancient tradition through bell ringing concerts. The best bell ringers of Moscow, Vologda, Vladimir, Suzdal, St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl create unique free concerts of bell music in Moscow's largest cathedrals. On Holy Sunday, the commencement of the Festival is announced by solemn Easter Bells from the bell tower of the Cathedral of Christ of the Savior. Bells fill the entire city during the days that follow.
For additional information, please visit http://easterfestival.ru/eng.
