Festival “Universe-Svetlanov!” took place at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory on 10–11 November 2018 as a major tribute to Evgeny Svetlanov’s artistic legacy. Bringing together leading soloists, ensembles, choirs, and orchestras, the festival unfolded across thirteen concerts in the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory’s main halls.
Structured as a musical journey rather than a conventional event, the programme highlighted key dimensions of Svetlanov’s universe—his work as conductor, composer, and cultural figure. Each concert offered a focused perspective, from intimate chamber works to large symphonic tributes.
Concert No. 1
In Memory of the Great Artist
Andrei Korobeinikov, piano
Vadim Repin, violin
Alexander Kniazev, celloP. Tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
Trio in A minor, Op. 50, “In Memory of a Great Artist”
Opening the festival, this chamber concert brought together Andrei Korobeinikov, Vadim Repin, and Alexander Kniazev in Tchaikovsky’s monumental Trio in A minor, Op. 50. Conceived as a tribute to artistic friendship and memory, the work set the emotional and symbolic foundation of the entire festival. Its depth and introspection echoed Svetlanov’s own artistic ideals.
A true artist is like a tree: the richer and more nourishing its fruits, the more widely they are shared among people. Many nations in many countries may partake of them. But one must never forget the tree on which they grew, nor the soil that fed its mighty roots.
Evgeny Svetlanov
Concert No.2 Beloved France
Oksana Sidyagina, harp
Chamber Orchestra of the Moscow State Conservatory
Roberto Forés Veses, conductor, Third Prize Winner of the 1st Evgeny Svetlanov International Conducting Competition 2007Svetlanov (1928–2002) — Russian Variations for harp and string orchestra
J. Turina (1882–1949) — The Bullfighter’s Prayer
G. Bizet (1838–1875) — Symphony in C major
This programme reflected Svetlanov’s profound artistic connection with France. Featuring works by Bizet, Turina, and Svetlanov himself, the concert combined elegance, colour, and orchestral brilliance. Under Roberto Forés Veses, the Chamber Orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory offered a refined homage to a country that played a central role in the Maestro’s career.
When Albert Sarfati invited Evgeny Fyodorovich to join his agency and we came under the management of Marina Bower, France began to shine for us in all the colours of the rainbow. Paris is wonderful when you have friends ready to run around with you, to show you things, to tell you stories, and to fill you with everything of interest that the history, literature, and music of this country have to offer. It was also in France that Svetlanov conducted his final opera production — “Madama Butterfly”. He had long dreamed of this staging. He felt that he would soon have to complete his life’s path with an essential creative musical ‘arch,’ to which he had always inwardly aspired. He accepted René Koering’s invitation to stage Puccini’s opera in Montpellier, in its historic, renowned, and prestigious theatre.
Excerpt from Nina Svetlanova’s novel “Unexpected Svetlanov”
Concert No. 3 Remembrance
Yurlov State Russian Choir
Gennady Dmitryak, conductorE. Svetlanov (1928–2002) — Remembrance, postlude for a cappella choir, in memory of Alexander Yurlov
G. Sviridov (1915–1998) — Three Choruses from the music to A. K. Tolstoy’s tragedy Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich Five Choruses on Poems by Russian Poets — A Pushkin Garland
“Once, it was already past midnight when I finished a new work — “Remembrance » (a postlude for a cappella choir), dedicated to the blessed memory of Alexander Alexandrovich Yurlov. As was my habit, when I wrote the completion date on the last page, I suddenly shuddered involuntarily… It turned out that I had composed this piece at exactly the very hours when, two years earlier, the man to whom it is dedicated had passed away. Such a coincidence deeply moved me. There are indeed inexplicable things in life… I called this postlude for unaccompanied choir “Remembrance”, but more precisely it should have been called “Commemoration”. This work is almost without words; only in the middle is there a single phrase…”
Excerpt from Evgeny Svetlanov “Music Today”
Concert No.4
America’s Light Breath
Andrei Korobeinikov, piano
Andrea Fallicо, clarinet
Christie Julien, pianoS. Rachmaninov (1873–1943) – Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos (Fantaisie-tableaux), Op. 5
G. Gershwin (1898–1937) – Three Preludes for piano
D. Novacek – Rag 2 from 4th Street Drag,
A. Beach (1867–1944) – Lullaby
E. Svetlanov (1928–2002) – Prelude and Scherzo for clarinet and piano
L. Bernstein (1918–1990) – Maria Suite from the musical « West Side Story », transcription for piano and clarinet by R. Stoltzman
A. Templeton (1910–1963) – Pocket Sonata
B. Kovács (born 1937) – After You, Mr. Gershwin
“These tours were important for Svetlanov for another reason as well: after a long interval, the USSR State Symphony Orchestra performed once again on New York’s most prestigious stage, Carnegie Hall. Evgeny Fyodorovich always recalled with pride, and emphasized in all his interviews, that our country’s State Orchestra held a unique and singular record — thirteen concert evenings on that celebrated stage during the 1970s. At that time, the tour for the Soviet artists was organized by the famous Sol Hurok. Among the stars who graced those evenings were such names and soloists as David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, and the leading singers of the Bolshoi Theatre. To this day, no other ensemble has surpassed that record. Evgeny Fyodorovich was always sincerely proud of this and often recalled the occasion in every conversation concerning America. Once he said to me: ‘Alas, human nature is such that after only a few days people no longer wish not only to know anything, but even to remember. One must speak persistently about important things; then perhaps at least something will remain in memory.’”
Excerpt from Nina Svetlanova “Unexpected Svetlanov”
Concert No. 5 A Dedication
Dmitri Makhtin, violin
Alexander Kniazev, cello
Evgeny Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra of Russia
Lio Kuokman, conductor, Second Prize Winner of the 3rd Evgeny Svetlanov International Conducting Competition 2014E. Svetlanov (1928–2002) – Poem for Violin and Orchestra In Memory of David Oistrakh
E. Bloch (1880–1959) – Schelomo, Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello and Orchestra
M. Bruch (1838–1920) – Kol Nidrei, for cello and orchestra
I. Stravinsky (1882–1971) – Suite from the ballet « Petrushka »
“My “Poem for Violin and Orchestra” was dedicated to the memory of Oistrakh. I loved David Fyodorovich deeply — his art, and I had the good fortune to collaborate with him, to work and perform with him; I loved him as a human being. He was one of those crystal-pure people in his attitude toward music, toward his colleagues, and toward those around him. His death profoundly shook me and gave rise to the work that bears the title “Poem to the Blessed Memory of David Oistrakh for violin and orchestra”. I emphasize the word ‘and’ deliberately, because this is, as it were, a dialogue between the violin and the orchestra: here both the orchestra and the violin stand as equals, each speaking in turn. There is an enormous solo cadenza for violin alone, embodying, as it were, the living David Fyodorovich with his violin in his hands, working wonders.”
Excerpt from Evgeny Svetlanov “Turning the Pages of Life”