V.Avvakumov, I. Akhmadullin, A.Beliaev, I.Sharapov, I.Karzov and M.Ignatiev in front of the MU Memorial Union

A few fortunate listeners who attended the Russian Brass performance-clinic held at the University of Missouri-Columbia were in for a treat.  Russian Brass, also known as the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Brass Quintet, is composed of members of Russia’s most celebrated orchestra, formerly known as the Leningrad Philharmonic: Principal Trumpet Igor Sharapov, Associate Principal Trumpet Alexei Beliaev, Co-principal Horn Igor Karzov, Principal Trombone Maxim Ignatiev, and Principal Tuba Valentin Avvakumov.

The ensemble - all of whose members are graduates of the St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory - demonstrated the best qualities of the Leningrad/St. Petersburg school of brass playing: impeccable musicianship, astounding virtuosity, and amazing dynamic variety from featherlike pianissimos to thunderous fortissimos.

All the players in this group are first-rate virtuosos and winners of national and international competitions: at the same time, they are all experienced orchestral musicians, who want to expand their musical experiences beyond the orchestral repertoire.

The group opened their performance with Glinka’s Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila, arr. by Vadim Ivanov. It was followed by Alexander Oskolkov’s transcription of March, Arabian Dance and Trepak from Tchaikovsky‘s Nutcracker. Masterfully using his slide technique and a Harmon mute, Maxim Ignatiev gave a very soulful and at the same time humorous rendition of the Frog’s Romance by Vladimir Trayan. It was followed by Borodin’s Polovetsian Dances from Prince Igor, masterfully transcribed by Vadim Ivanov. Russian Brass closed their recital with a breathtaking execution of the Russian sailors dance “Yablochko” arranged by Alexei Pozin.

After a brief intermission members of the quintet went to different rooms to work with the MU students. Igor Karzov was joined by the horn students of Dr. Marcia Spence; Prof. Troy Marsh’s trombone studio gathered with Maxim Ignatiev; Valentin Avvakumov led the class with the students of tuba professor Dr. Angelo Manzo. Kelly Stavnes, Rachel Nold, David MacDonald, and Andrew Bishop from the trumpet studio of Dr. Iskander Akhmadullin played for Igor Sharapov and Alexei Beliaev.

The same night the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra performed Dvorak’s 7th Symphony and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6, with Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations as an encore, at the packed Missouri Theatre.

Links:
Russian Brass
St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra