Denis Matsuev's first summer festival. Closing ceremony

Denis Matsuev's first summer festival in Suzdal concluded with a symphonic jazz program within the ancient architectural complex of the Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Denis Matsuev shared the stage with his friends and regular creative collaborators: jazz musicians Andrei Ivanov (double bass) and Alexander Zinger (drums), cellist Borislav Strulev and domra player Ekaterina Mochalova, as well as the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra.

For music lovers well aware of Denis Matsuev's passion for jazz, the musician had a surprise in store: jazz arrangements and improvisations were performed at the festival in orchestral versions. Along with classical arrangements and improvisations on themes by A. Khachaturian, E. Grieg, N. Rimsky-Korsakov, C. Saint-Saëns, and others, the concert participants also performed original compositions, including Andrei Ivanov's "Fiesta" and Denis Matsuev's "Ballad," which he wrote in his youth.

At the conductor's podium was the charismatic young maestro Ivan Nikiforchin, who by the age of 30 had founded his own ensemble (the "Academy of Russian Music" chapel) and headed one of the capital's leading orchestras, the Moscow State Academic Symphony Orchestra. Ivan Nikiforchin is a laureate of the 1st International Rachmaninoff Competition for Pianists, Composers, and Conductors, and the recipient of the Pure Sound, Boris Tchaikovsky, and BraVo awards, the Russian Presidential Prize for Young Cultural Figures, and the Moscow Art Theater Prize in the Opera category, among other awards.

Cellist Borislav Strulev, whose international career began with a triumphant debut at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1999, was one of the first in the world to play jazz cello. He frequently experiments with crossovers, collaborates with musicians of various genres and actors, works in film music, and acts as a producer and musical director for various projects.

Andrey Ivanov is a jazz double bassist, composer, and music producer. By combining jazz and classical playing techniques, he has created new principles for playing the double bass. He is the creator of various creative and production projects at the Ivanov Brothers International Production Center.

Alexander Zinger is rightfully considered one of the finest jazz drummers in Russia. He has collaborated with renowned musicians including Deborah Brown, George Garzon, John Grant, Evgeny Grishkovets, Frank Lacy, Anatoly Kroll, Igor Bril, Gregory Porter, Roy Hargrove, Vadim Eilenkrig, and many others.

Ekaterina Mochalova is a renowned domra player, soloist, and concertmaster of the N.P. Osipov National Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments of Russia. She collaborates with renowned musicians (including Yuri Bashmet, Denis Matsuev, Alexander Sladkovsky, Ekaterina Mechetina, and others) and composers, and has repeatedly premiered works dedicated to her.

PROGRAM:

Leonard Bernstein. Overture to the operetta "Candide";

Denis Matsuev. Ballad;

Sergey Dreznin. Improvisation on Dunaevsky's Themes from the Film "Circus";

Chick Corea. Spain;

Andrey Ivanov. "Fly Away" (medley); "Fiesta", jazz improvisations on themes by classics: N. Rimsky-Korsakov, A. Khachaturian, E. Grieg, C. Saint-Saëns, A. Borodin.

PERFORMERS:

Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Ivan Nikiforchin;

Soloists:

Denis Matsuev (piano);

Andrey Ivanov (double bass);

Borislav Strulev (cello);

Ekaterina Mochalova (domra);

Alexander Zinger (drums).

Host:

Alexey Barabanov

Spaso-Evfimiev Monastery, Suzdal, July 5, 2025