Musical Saratov

Musical season in Saratov is full of various events. Besides the Conservatoire, music of different styles can be heard at the Opera Theater, Philharmonic and several other large concert halls. It is difficult to highlight all the city musical events, but, as Conservatoire presents academic music culture, we will speak about the most significant festivals and competitions.  
The Sobinov festival
For over thirty years, The Sobinov Festival has been attracting opera and ballet enthusiasts to Saratov. Traditionally, the festival is held in late May – early June and its program consists of compositions for musical theater in different styles, including classical and modern cantatas, oratorios, operas, operettas and ballets. Usually, the best opera performers of Russia and other countries are invited to perform at the festival. Over the years Irina Arkhipova, Maria Bieshu, Arthur Eisen, Vladislav Piavko, Vladimir Scherbakov, Yury Nechaev, Konstantin Pluzhnikov, Yury Grigorev, Mikhail Davydov, Lidia Chernyh and many others took part in it. Tamara Sinyavskaya and Muslim Magomaev performed their recitals within the frame of festival. Daughter of an outstanding tenor Leonid Sobinov, after whom the festival and Conservatoire are named, also enjoyed attending the festival in Saratov.    
Integral part of the Sobinov Festival is The Contest of Contests, one of the most prestigious vocal competitions in Russia. Participants of the contest can be only laureates of All-Russian and International vocal competitions under 35.  12 vocalists who successfully pass selecting round are allowed to take part in the competition. Assessment criteria include both good quality of video record and the list of participant’s awards. The more prestigious the competitions they won before, the higher their chance to pass the selection. To avoid jury members’ personal sympathy, singers from Saratov can’t take part in the Contest of Contests. Due to this strict condition, the high level of the Competition, transparency and honesty of judging is provided.
Heinrich Neugaus Festival
Annually, the Heinrich Neugaus Festival takes place in the Saratov Philharmonic. The idea of the holding the festival belongs to Albert Tarakanov, Professor of Saratov Conservatoire, a pupil of the outstanding pianist. Several other pupils of Heinrich Neugaus worked in Saratov Conservatoire, including Semen Benditsky, Lev Shugom, Tatiana Kan, Anatoly Skripay and others.  
The Heinrich Neugaus Festival has been held in Saratov since 1993. Over the years Svyatoslav Richter, Eliso Virsaladze, Nikolay Lugansky and many other outstanding musicians took part in its programs.  
Knushevitsky International Cello Competition
The Competition has been held since 2012. It is the only international contest for cellists. There are two rounds for participants under 18 and three rounds for musicians under 30. International Jury consists of outstanding cellists from Russia and Europe and is headed by Chairman Igor Gavrysh, the Professor of Moscow Conservatory, a pupil of Sviatoslav Knushevitsky. The main idea of the competition is to find new talented cellists. For many young musicians the competition became a real start of music career. Traditionally, participants and laureates of the Competition, invited performers and Jury members play large concerts and hold master-classes for young musicians, studying in Saratov. After the Competition laureates perform a concert in Petrovsk, a town in Saratov region, where Sviatoslav Knushevitsky was born.
To be continued…