St.-Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra "Klassika"

Orchestra

The St.-Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra "Klassika" was founded by Maestro Alexander Kantorov in 1988 originally as a chamber orchestra. The best musicians of St.Petersburg were associated with this orchestra. They were all graduates of the St.- Petersburg State conservatory, prize winners of prestigious national and international music competitions.
The St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra KLASSIKA made rapid strides and gathered vast plaudits from music lovers and professionals. The musical traditions of the best St.Petersburg orchestras were maintained by this orchestra and within 3 years it has grown into a symphony orchestra. It now comprises more than 70 musicians.
The Orchestra‘s performances of Russian classical music have met with critical acclaim. The Orchestra plays Russian music with great inspiration: the music of Tchaikovsky, Rakhmaninov, Mussorgsky and other famous Russian composers. The orchestra‘s repertoire also includes symphonies by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Mendelssohn.
The concert programs make a bridge between epochs: the 18th and 20th centuries, classical and contemporary music. The 19th century is represented by Rossini‘s Overtures, Dvorak‘s and Smetana‘s symphonies. Brilliant performances of contemporary music have become unforgettable events in the musical life of St.- Petersburg. The St.- Petersburg Symphony Orchestra KLASSIKA regularly performs in Grand and Small Philharmonic Halls of the D. Shostakovich State Philharmonic, St.-Petersburg, and in the other prestigious concert halls all over Russia.
In February 1992 the KLASSIKA Orchestra was awarded the status of the State Orchestra of St.-Petersburg.
The KLASSIKA Orchestra has successfully toured in Germany (1993, 95,96,97), Finland (1995), South Korea (1995) and in Japan (1993; 1996). In December 1995, Turku, Finland, (Guest conductor: Maestro Karl Sollak, Austria) the Orchestra accompanied the concert of Maestro Placido Domingo, who highly estimated the orchestra‘s professional level.
Under the baton of Alexander Kantorov the orchestra toured in the USA and Canada twice with great success. It performed 22 concerts in Mississippi, the USA (February-March, 1995). Besides these very successful concerts, the Orchestra presented a special educational program for the Mississippi college students and was highly appreciated by the critics and public. The St.-Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra KLASSIKA conducted by Maestro Kantorov produced three records for "Melodia" (Mozart and Handel) and three CDs entitled "Tchaikovsky Festival", "W.A.Mozart in St.-Petersburg" and "Symphonic Dances".