On Sunday afternoon the Collegium Musicum Chamber Orchestra will perform their new program of classical music entitled "The Adventures of Foreigners in Russia." The performance will be held in the Concert Hall of the Vernadsky State Geological Museum,
"If it kills me, at least I will know that it was worth it," said French composer Hector Berlioz about his upcoming trip to Russia. He was not the only foreign composer or musician who traveled around Russia with a mixture of dread and delight. Collegium Musicum will perform music of foreign composers whose trips to Russia were unforgettable and full of adventure. The music is quite diverse in style and century, from pieces by Francesco Araja, a composer at the court of Empress Anna, to the songs of the German rock band Scorpions, who toured Russia extensively and dedicated "Wind of Change" to their trips. Pieces by Benjamin Britten, Henryk Wieniawski and other composers will be played as well. Each piece will be accompanied by a story. Do you know which composer came to Russia virtually unknown and left famous? Who dedicated his famous symphony to a Russian Emperor? Who fell in love in Russia, but could not get engaged to his beloved? And who managed to instill some discipline into Russian musicians and ensured that they came on time?
Collegium Musicum is a unique collective that unites professional musicians and non-professional graduates of music schools. It is made up of Russians and musicians from the U.K., Germany, France, and other countries. The orchestra's conductor is Alexander Barklyansky, a graduate of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and a winner of several international competitions.
Vernadsky State Geological Museum. 11 Ulitsa Mokhovaya. Metro Okhotny Ryad. Tickets from 400 rubles ($6). mcmusicum.com. Sun. June 5 at 4 p.m.
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