More than 70 musicians on stage: State Academic Russian Orchestra named after V.V. Andreyev  performed in Vologda. Last time this eminent group, called the “Russian miracle”, gave a concert for Vologda residents 30 years ago – in 1989, so it is no wonder that the audience eagerly awaited a new meeting. This time, the musicians became participants in the VIII International Musical Festival of Gavrilinsky.

State Academic Russian Orchestra named after V.V. Andreev is the first professional group in world history in which national instruments were united on the principle of a symphony orchestra. The idea belongs to its founder – an outstanding musician and composer Vasily Andreev. Since the day of the first performance, the St. Andrew’s Orchestra has been the pride and glory of Russian art.

The music of Valery Gavrilin occupies a special place in the repertoire of the collective. The intonations of folk music and light nostalgia for the Russian XIX century, characteristic of his compositions, are very organically embodied in the sound of Russian instruments. No wonder, while touring the cities of Russia, the orchestra often includes the works of our countryman in their concert programs.

The repertoire of the Andreevsky Orchestra includes “The House by the Road”, “Russian Notebook”, “Batyushkovsky Waltz”, which is considered by the collective to be one of the most beloved works of Gavrilins, and many of his other compositions. On the eve of the performance in Vologda, the orchestra presented the large program “Valery Gavrilin: strokes for the portrait”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the composer, in St. Petersburg.

By tradition, the concert in Vologda began with the music of Vasily Andreev – the waltzes “Balalaika” and “Remembering Gatchina” were performed; in the first section, the audience also heard the Russian folk song “Hey, let’s hook up,” “Night on the Bald Mountain” by Mussorgsky, “Flight of the Bumblebee” from the opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” by Rimsky-Korsakov, “Magic Lake” by Lyadov, “Polka” and “ Gallop ”by Shostakovich. The second section was entirely devoted to the work of Valery Gavrilin.