There is a special place in our city, which every Astrahanets knows, even if never inside, although there are not many such people. Someone came to the Astrakhan Philharmonic in childhood to the New Year's view, someone came here to the speech of favorite artists already in adulthood. There are many true music lovers trying not to miss a single significant concert of the oldest cultural institution of the region.
Ast-News.Ru follows the creative life of Astrakhan, noting the most vivid events and phenomena, introduces his readers with personalities who form cultural space and promoting art in all its manifestations.
The reason for the meeting with the director of the Astrakhan State Philharmonic Valentina Vladimirovna Chernyakov and the artistic director of Natalia Alexandrovna, the upcoming concert, dedicated to the memory of the untimely left the outstanding jazz singer Larisa Sazonova, was becoming an outstanding jazz singer. But, of course, using the moment that the director and artistic director of the iconic cultural institution agreed to talk to us together, we decided to highlight the activities of the Astrakhan Philharmonic Soldle.
Valentina Chernyakova:
- I take my post for 11 years - this is a period when you can sum up certain results. There were different periods in the life of Astrakhan philharmonic. So, in 1994, a big fire happened here: a roof burned, a concert hall was destroyed. For thirteen years, the building was not in the best condition, and Philharmonic could not conduct full-fledged activities. For this for a long time, the memory of this place in people interested in art, slowly erased.
Philharmonic could not accept visitors visiting, concerts were held only in the lobby and art cafe. Then a large-scale reconstruction was held, during which the main parameters were preserved, while new premises were added that comply with the modern requirements of this kind of institution.
The safor moments became the fact that the path here, figuratively speaking, threatened the grass. Therefore, in 2007, when the building was fully prepared, the question of how to return the attention to the Philharmonic Astrakhans. And to show that this is not only a temple of art, where a person can feel comfortable. To do this, it was necessary to take into account the trends of the new century and attract the next generation of viewers.
In search of a compromise, we introduced a free dress code when visiting concert programs. This was the only moment where we allowed themselves to adapt to the public. In an effort to ensure that our spectators grow in spiritual and cultural veins, we try to stand at a certain step, forming a high taste and acquaintance with the best samples of musical art.
Natalia Lolish:
- I work in this post for three years. Prior to that, he taught at the Conservatory, worked at the Regional Ministry of Culture. We have a wonderful creative team in the philharmonic and there is a goal, a certain plank, to which we strive. The main task of our activities is to level the difference between the musical life of the capital cities and Astrakhan, as far as possible. We strive to invite famous musicians, some of which Astrakhan's audience never heard. This process has the reverse side of the medal - the presentation of outstanding artists brings pleasure not only to the audience, but also goes to our musicians who speak with them on the same scene. Such interaction is a creative stimulant for Astrakhan artists.
In the photo: Natalia Lolih and Valentina Chernyakova
Valentina Chernyakova:
- Keeping the glorious traditions of the Astrakhan Philharmonic, we work in all key areas. We manage to combine the traditional format of philharmonic with elements of modern trends.
When I passed on my position, I was only 30 years old, I had already experience in this area. After the end of the Institute of Culture, I worked in the management of the culture of Astrakhan, I tried myself a sphere of restaurant and hotel business and was always in the thick of cultural events of the city, organized various events. In my education, I am not a musician and could not, as it was accepted for a long time, in addition to the directory position, take on the artistic guide. In cultural institutions there must be a managers and a person engaged in repertoire policy.
When the leadership of the region and the profile department entrusted me this post, I asked what you expect from me. Then they answered that my task is that this place healed. Despite the magnificent reconstruction, during the years of downtime, the audience forgot here the road. And the new generation of viewers and did this building at all.
Performing a state task is to maintain and popularize real art in its pure form, it was necessary to attract a public here. I did not want to descend before being just a rolling platform and promoted pop culture. Thinking how to establish a relationship with the public, I realized that you need to start raising the viewer from the smallest years. So the philharmonic returned children's subscriptions, interesting programs for the youth. We began to attract young people to us and lured it with all the available ways. Young people came here to specialized events, which were held here with the youth of the city: KVN, "Student Spring" and others.
It was important for us to make a philharmonic a pleasant meeting place for young people. And, by visiting the walls of the Philharmonic, they got used to the situation and began to slowly come to our concerts.
We also abandoned all sorts of exhibitions here: fur coats, stones, shoes and other goods. So, concentrating on public and concert-educational life, the case has shifted from the dead point. For ten years, those kids who led their parents have grown, now young people themselves come to our concerts. We have the audience of all ages, finding something for themselves.
During the reconstruction, a wooden ceiling was created in the concert hall, it made it possible to create an amazing acoustics. Working with the modern public requires a significant technical arsenal: high-tech screen, high-quality microphones. All this equipment we were able to purchase thanks to the state support and sponsorship. To competently talk orchestras, you need special expensive equipment. Thanks to such powerful technical support during epidemiological limitations, we conducted high-quality online concerts.
Natalia Lolish:
- We work only with lively sound. People come to us for genuine music. Even if we have a consolidated orchestra on the stage, choir, soloists, readers - we use only a podger. We do not allow any options with phonograms.
We are constantly looking for new forms of communication with the audience. Recently, together with the head of pop-jazz orchestra, Evgeny Yakushkin came up with the Dance Evenings project, where the favorite pop melodies of the older generation of Astrakhans, which they can dance sound. Such musical traditions are very common in Europe, where in special dancelas people are pleased to spend time in which only professional live music sounds. This is a kind of ball, adapted to modern realities. At first, there were few people came, many of the whale treated this venture, but then the "Sarafan Radio" worked, and now, we cannot accommodate everyone who wants to our dance evenings.
Our festivals are particularly pride and, above all, the International Festival of Vocal Arts them. Valeria Barsoy and Maria Maksakova, whose idea originated from philharmonic musicians in 1987, which later became a large-scale cultural phenomenon.
This year, we traditionally plan to spend the festival together with the Astrakhan Opera and Ballet Theater. In mid-April in Astrakhan, the music of the Czech composer of the Baroque era of Baroque Yana Discovered in Russia will be performed for the first time: the premiere execution of the "Mass of All Saints" will take place. The outstanding world-class musician, the famous bass, the soloist of the Bolshoi Theater of Russia Mikhail Cossacks will also come to us. He is recognized as one of the best bass of Russia and has contracts in the largest opera house theaters of the world. On our scene, he will perform with the orchestra of Russian folk instruments. This concert promises to be a big event.
To attract the viewer, we must offer something original, interesting and distinctive. We try to prepare the programs of different stylistics. To do this, it is necessary to competently form the poster so that the fans of the classics, folk music or jazz had the opportunity to choose the genre close to his tastes. A feature of our cultural institution is that every concert is unique. At best, he can repeat from us in a few years, provided that it will be possible to assemble the same creative forces.
Valentina Chernyakova:
- In Astrakhan philharmonic, not only live music sounds, the main thing is that we are not a rolled area. Now there is such a trend that the audience has ceased to actively buy tickets in advance, as it was before. Because of the fear of the cancellation of concerts and the return of money, as it turned out last year because of the care restrictions. But now, an hour before the concert, we observe large queues from Cass. At the same time, we also have very large discounts for pensioners, students, schoolchildren. They can purchase tickets with a fifty-percent discount.
Now we look forward to spring to launch our wonderful music "Music on Water", which will be held already on the renewed Swan Lake, provided that the ban on spending outdoor activities will be removed. Then the astrakhans and guests of the city will be able to enjoy the high skill of the artists of the Philharmonic. The same speeches for citizens pass in the Filharmonic Square. We actively popularize the work of our musicians and artists. Many Astrakhans thus learn that wonderful teams work in our city.
Natalia Lolish:
- On the eve, we had a concert program dedicated to the Latin American Jazz and the Brazilian carnival. I noticed that there were a lot of young people in the hall. We strive to ensure that the level of cultural goods, which is in the metropolitan cities, was available to Astrakhans. When the famous violinist Count Murge came to us last year, who first performed 24 Capris Paganini in Astrakhan, the tickets for his speech were redeemed in a few days.
Tour is a very expensive event. Theaters have a great advantage in this regard, as they have the opportunity to get into the "Large Tours" project, funded by the state. Last year, the framework of this program was somewhat expanded, and we sent an application to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation to participate in it. We hope that our idea to go to tour from Siberia's cities with the Orchestra of Russian People's Instruments named after Makhov and the famous Scythian Quartet will be implemented.
Valentina Chernyakova:
- We regularly go with speeches in our region as part of the project "Master of Arts - residents of the village." Some inconvenience is that the Philharmonic has no big bus. But the chapters of some areas provide us with transport so that we can transport not only artists, tools, costumes, but also all the necessary equipment for a high-level concert.
Natalia Lolish:
- This month, our poster is full of magnificent concert programs for all tastes: from baroque music to Soviet pop. Concerts are held on the anniversaries of the outstanding composers of Andrei Petrov and Astor Piazzolla. And the chamber orchestra will present a new program "Music Italy".
On February 13, on the birthday of our beloved Larisa Sazonova, an absolutely unique concert dedicated to her will be held in Philharmonic. When misfortune happened in June 2020 - and Larisa did not happen, we immediately thought about to carry out an event in memory of her. Thought to coincide with his anniversary of her care, but we did not want to turn it into a gland, as Larisa was a vitality and joyful man.
We wanted to make it so that it approved her herself. Therefore, we decided to collect her friends, students, colleagues and make a peculiar musical offering to her and her huge talent. In our hearts and memory of Larisa forever remains alive. Spectators this evening is waiting for the mass of surprises and discoveries.
For a while she did not work with us, but she was always soul with Astrakhan Philharmonic. In 2018, she came to us and said that he really wants to sing with a jazz orchestra, so far. Now it can be viewed as a certain premonition. But over these two and a half years, she managed to participate in several stunning concert programs, sing a repertoire who did not ever play, prepare a number of brilliant numbers, the impressions of which remained unforgettable.
Larisa had an amazing pedagogical gift, she could build an open dialogue with children and young people. Their relationship was so warm that some students became close friends and called it on "you."
Valentina Chernyakova:
"I have always been very proud that we had a singer of such a high level, whose name is listed in the Russian encyclopedia of Jazz. With her limitless talent, she was the true patriot of Astrakhan. She left for a period to work in St. Petersburg and Finland, while always positioned himself as the Astrakhan singer.
I, as the head of the institution, I can say that Larisa, with all its recognition, the high status of the singer, have never demonstrated them. In communication, she was a simple and open person. Never refused the performances that others considered not prestigious. Larisa has always remained a professional for whom the service of art was the main thing. This is a huge rarity when the artist of such a large talent can remain a welcoming and good person.
The Astrakhan Philharmonic for more than eighty years forms a high musical taste from Astrakhans, retains the richest culture of the region and opens up new horizons. And in general, this is a place where it is nice to be - there is a special atmosphere of creativity, and after each concert there is a special heat in the soul - the feeling of the strong, followed by just not be lazy to come here.
Ekaterina Nekrasova.