Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre is continuing its beautiful traditions of inviting some of today’s most famous orchestras to give performances in Vilnius – this time we are presenting a unique concert of National Orchestra of the Capitole in Toulouse, an orchestra that, under the guidance of the very talented conductor Tugan Sokhiev, has won the hearts of both the critics and the public all over the world. The orchestra shall be joined on stage by the legendary piano virtuoso Elisabeth Leonskaja.
Programme of the Concert at the LNOBT:
1. H. Berlioz. "The Corsaire"
2. R. Schumann. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A Minor
Soloist Elisabeth Leonskaja
3. M. Mussorgsky / M. Ravel. "Pictures at an Exhibition"
Russian conductor Tugan Sokhiev was appointed musical director of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse on 1st September 2008 after 3 years as principal guest conductor and musical advisor of Toulouse's musical ensemble. His position as musical director of the Orchestre National du Capitole will continue until August 2016. The orchestra launched a recruiting process at his instigation in 2009 and now boasts 125 musicians.
The relationship between Sokhiev and his musicians in Toulouse is increasingly celebrated - Figaro described the partnership as “at the centre of the French musical life” and Le Monde wrote of “sokhievmania” after a recent concert in Paris. His discography includes numerous highly-acclaimed recordings for Naïve Classique with Toulouse – including Tchaikovsky’s Fourth and Fifth Symphonies, Mussorgsky’s "Pictures at an Exhibition", Rachmaninov’s "Symphonic Dances" and Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf". Their most recent release including Stravinsky’s "Rite of Spring" and "Firebird" is released in early 2013.
For decades now, Elisabeth Leonskaja has been among the most celebrated pianists of our time. In a world dominated by the media, Elisabeth Leonskaja has remained true to herself and to her music, and in doing so, is following in the footsteps of the great Russian musicians of the Soviet era, such as David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter and Emil Gilels, who never wavered in their focus on the quintessence of music despite working in a very difficult political environment. Her almost legendary modesty still makes her somewhat media-shy today.