«… ex oriente lux …» - the world premiere of the Trans-Siberian Art Festival

On April the 8th in Arnold Kats State Concert Hall the world premiere of the violin concerto by Alexander Raskatov, commissioned by the Trans-Siberian Art Festival and dedicated to Vadim Repin will be performed.

The Trans-Siberian Art Festival is the only Russian forum that presents premieres of compositions by contemporary composers every year. In past years, these were the works of B. Yusupov, L. Auerbach, A. Raikopulu, E. Schneider, S. Gubaidulina. This year, at the request of the Festival, the violin concert entitled «… ex oriente lux …» - “... from the east is light ...” is presented by Alexander Raskatov.

The composer received orders from such musicians as G. Kremer and Kremerata Baltica, Y. Bashmet, V. Gergiev, Borodin Quartet and soprano E. Vasilyeva, Hilliard-ensemble, Sabina Meyer Ensemble, Schoenberg-ensemble, Basel Symphony Orchestra and D. R. Davis, Dallas Symphony Orchestra and J. van Zweden. His compositions were recorded in Chant du Monde (France), BIS (Sweden), EMI (England), Nonesuch (USA), Claves (Switzerland), Wergo, ECM (Germany).

“This is my second concerto for violin and orchestra. The idea of writing it belongs to Vadim Repin and Andres Mustonen, - explains the composer. - Why did I give such a title to the concert? I allowed myself to quote a phrase from the Matthew’s Gospel for two reasons. First, the concert was ordered to me by the Trans-Siberian Art-Festival and for the first time should be performed in Novosibirsk, so in the process of writing this fact itself sent me to the East. Secondly, and this is the main thing: cultural aspect. For many years being in Western Europe, I came to the following conclusion: the informativeness of thinking has long been prevalent in Western culture, the expression is significantly suppressed. Excessive abundance of information in a paradoxical way leads to the “misinformation” of the listener. And I think that the East as a generalized way of thinking can contribute to the development of music that fresh stream, which is now so lacking.”

The concert will be performed by the artistic director of the Trans-Siberian Art Festival Vadim Repin and Novosibirsk Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andres Mustonen.

Along with the premiere, Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto will be performed by Antonio Meneses (Brazil) and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.