National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia,
Vladimir Spivakov, Waltraud Meier

The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia (NPR) was founded in January 2003 by the Ministry of Culture. The Orchestra united top orchestra musicians and gifted youth. During the years of its activities, the NPR has succeeded in becoming one of the best symphonic orchestras of Russia and in gaining admiration from the audience and recognition from the professionals. 

The Orchestra is headed by Vladimir Spivakov, a world-known violinist and conductor. 

The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia has been collaborated prominent conductors such as Michel Plasson, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Krzysztof Penderecki, James Conlon, Okko Kamu, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Alexander Lazarev, John Nelson, Jan Latham-Koenig, Alexander Vedernikov, Tugan Sokhiev, Ken-David Masur, Simon Gaudenz, Stanislav Kochanovsky, Alexander Soloviev, Gabriel Bebeşelea, Pierre Bleuse and others.

The NPR has performed with many outstanding artists, such as Jessye Norman, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Kiri Te Kanawa, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Renee Fleming, Juan Diego Florez, Matthias Goerne, Waltraud Meier, Ferruccio Furlanetto, Marcelo Alvarez, Ramon Vargas, Violeta Urmana, Anna Netrebko, Ildar Abdrazakov, Gidon Kremer, Gil Shaham, Natalia Gutman, Alexander Knyazev, Arkady Volodos, Evgeny Kissin, Vadim Repin, Martha Argerich, Boris Berezovsky, Kun Woo-Paik, Marc-Andre Hamelin, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon, Viktoria Mullova and others. 

Among many artists who have worked with the NPR on a regular basis are John Lill, Denis Matsuev, Nikoly Lugansky, Vadim Gluzman, Hibla Gerzmava, Albina Shagimuratova, Anna Aglatova, Vasily Ladyuk, Dmitry Korchak, Nikolay Tokarev, Alexander Romanovsky, Sergey Dogadin, David Garrett, Alexander Ramm. 

The NPR’s repertoire covers the period from early classical symphonies to the newest works of modern composers. In the course of eleven years the Orchestra has presented many exceptional projects, world premieres, unique transcription series and concert cycles. 

In accordance with its status and name, the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia gives concerts not only in Moscow, but in various regions of Russia as well. The NPR ends up each season with a tour in Russia. Every year the NPR takes part in the International Music Festival in Colmar, France. The Orchestra has toured extensively over the CIS countries and the Baltic countries, in Europe, the USA, China and Japan. 

In May 2005 the Capriccio Recording Company released CD and DVD of Isaak Schwartz’s Concert for Orchestra, titled Yellow Stars, recorded by the NPR under the baton of Vladimir Spivakov to whom the composer dedicated the work. In 2010–2016 Sony Classical released several NPR’s CDs with music of Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov, Grieg etc. In 2014–2021, a number of recordings of Russian music were released under the Spivakov Sound label, including Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, a triple album with works by Tchaikovsky (Symphonies No. 4-6, Italian Capriccio, Romeo and Juliet); The Bells and The Spring by Rachmaninoff, as well as his complete piano concertos (with Alexander Romanovsky); the albums Holy Russia (sacred works by Rachmaninoff and Taneyev), Magic in Music and Masterpieces of Russian Music (Lyadov, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Scriabin). It is planned to release three Rachmaninoff's symphonies for the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth.

Vladimir Spivakov, an outstanding violinist and conductor, has brightly realized his multi-faceted talent in the music art and in various fields of social life. As violinist, Vladimir Spivakov had passed the brilliant school of Yuri Yankelevich, a famous professor of the Moscow Conservatory. Not less was the impact of his second teacher and idol—David Oistrakh, one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century.

While still very young, Vladimir Spivakov was awarded high prizes at several important international contests, such as the Marguerite Long—Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris (1965), the Paganini Competition in Genoa (1967), the Montreal International Competition (1969) and the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (1970).

In 1975 following his triumphal recitals in the USA, Vladimir Spivakov started his brilliant international career. He performed as soloist with the most important symphonic orchestras in the world, including philharmonic orchestras of Moscow, Leningrad, Berlin, Vienna, London and New-York, symphonic orchestras of Paris, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and Cleveland under the baton of the most eminent conductors of the 20th century, such as E.Mravinsky, E.Svetlanov, K.Kondrashin, Y.Temirkanov, M.Rostropovich, L.Bernstein, S.Ozawa, L.Maazel, C.M.Giulini, R.Muti and C.Abbado. Critics of the leading musical countries unanimously appreciate Spivakov’s deep insight into composers’ intentions, the richness, beauty and volume of his tone, his fine phrasing and love for nuance, the emotional impact onto the audience, his refined artistry and intelligence.

Until 1997 Vladimir Spivakov had played a violin of Francesco Gobetti, a present from Professor Yankelevich. Since 1997 he plays a Stradivari which was given to him for life ownership by his admirers.

In 1979 Vladimir Spivakov together with some of his colleagues who shared his flavour for chamber music formed a new chamber orchestra named “Moscow Virtuosi” and has been its artistic director, conductor and soloist ever since. He studied conducting with Professor Izrail Gusman in Russia as well as with great Leonard Bernstein and Lorin Maazel in the USA Leonard Bernstein presented him with his own conducting stick as the sign of his sympathy and belief into his conducting future. Vladimir Spivakov never parts with the precious gift.

As chamber and symphony orchestra conductor, Vladimir Spivakov has appeared in the world's most important concert venues and conducted European and American orchestras, such as symphony orchestras of London, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Budapest, La Scala Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Academia “Santa Cecilia”, the Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra, the French Radio Orchestra and best Russian orchestras.

V.Spivakov has recorded extensively both as soloist and conductor, and his over 40 compact discs reflect different music styles and periods from European baroque music to the works of the 20th century’s composers: Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Penderecki, Schnittke, Pyart, Kancheli, Shchedrin and Gubaydulina, mostly recorded with the BMG Classics.

V.Spivakov was the founder of the International Colmar Music Festival (France) in 1989, and has been its Artistic Director ever since. Many prominent musical groups and collectives have appeared at the Festival during the 16 years of its existence, a considerable part of them being the best Russian orchestras and choruses as well as great world-known artists such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Yehudi Menuhin, Evgeny Svetlanov, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jose van Dam, Jessye Norman, Robert Hall, Thomas Quasthoff, Kristian Zimmermann, Michel Plasson, Evgeny Kissin, Vadim Repin, Nikolay Lugansky, Vladimir Kraynev, Sergey Leiferkus.

V.Spivakov has taken part as a jury member in many well-known international competitions since 1989 (e.g., in Paris, Genoa, London, Montreal); he is President of the Sarasate Violin Contest in Spain. In 2002 he presided over the Jury of the Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition in Moscow. V.Spivakov followed Nathan Milstein in leading the very prestigious annual violin master classes in Zurich in 1994.

For many years V.Spivakov has been involved in humanitarian and charity activities. Together with the "Moscow Virtuosi" Chamber Orchestra he performed in Armenia soon after the horrible earthquake of 1988 and in Ukraine 3 days after the Chernobyl disaster, gave hundreds of charity concerts throughout the territory of the former Soviet Union.

In 1994 V.Spivakov founded the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation aimed at humanitarian, artistic and educational targets, such as improving life standards for orphans and disabled children, as well as creating conditions for creative development of young talents, i.e. providing musical instruments, allocating scholarships and grants, attracting the most talented musicians, children and teenagers, to “Moscow Virtuosi” performances and at the Colmar Music Festival, organizing international art exhibitions for young artists, etc. Through the years of its existence the Foundation has furnished tangible assistance to hundreds of children and young talents.

In 1999-2002 Spivakov had been Principal Conductor of the Russian National Orchestra, whereas since 2003 V.Spivakov is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the National Philharmonic of Russia and President of the Moscow Performing Arts Centre.

V.Spivakov was awarded the honorary title of the People’s Artist of the USSR (1989), the State Prize of the USSR (1989) and the Order of Peoples’ Friendship (1993). The Russian Space Center gave the name of Spivakov to one of small planets on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

In 1996 V.Spivakov was awarded the Order for Merits of Grade III (Ukraine). In 1999 V.Spivakov was decorated with high state awards in several countries such as l’Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et Letters (France), the St. Mesrop Mashtots Order (Armenia), the Order for Services To Fatherland, Grade III (Russia). In 2000 V.Spivakov received l’Ordre de la Legion d’Honneur from the President of France. In 2002 he was elected an Honorary Doctor of the Moscow Lomonosov University, while in May 2005, together Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Leonid Roshal, he was chosen the Russian of the Year in the “Russia Without Borders” nomination.

German mezzo-soprano Waltraud Meier was born in Würzburg. She grew up in a home full of music-making, and as early as her school and college days she already sang in five different choruses. After completing her secondary education, she initially studied English and Romance languages while taking singing lessons at the same time.

In 1976 Waltraud Meier decided to concentrate on a sin- ging career and made her debut at the Würzburg Opera as Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana. During the following years the mezzo-soprano gained a wide repertoire from regular engagements in Mannheim (1978-1980), Dortmund (1980- 1983), Hanover (1983-1984), and Stuttgart (1985-1988). Waltraud Meier made her international debut in 1980 at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires as Fricka in Die Walküre.

With her triumphant success as Kundry in Wagner‘s Parsifalat the 1983 Bayreuth Festival, she launched her internatio- nal career which took Waltraud Meier to regular appearan-ces at the Royal Opera of Covent Garden, the MetropolitanOpera in New York, La Scala in Milan, the Opéra Nationalde Paris, the Vienna State Opera, and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. After the singer had set new standards in the role of Kundry from 1983 to 1993 in Bayreuth she moved there into dramatic soprano roles, impressing deeply both critics and the public as Isolde in the legendary Tristan und Isolde production staged by Heiner Müller and conducted by Daniel Barenboim between 1993 and 1999. Again in Bayreuth, at the 2000 „Millennium Ring“ festival, Meier performed the role of Sieglinde in Die Walküre staged by Jürgen Flimm and conducted by Giuseppe Sinopoli. Celebrated in her roles as Kundry, Isolde, Ortrud, Venus, and Sieglinde, Waltraud Meier is today considered as one of the most internationally significant Wagner singers of our time.

Also in the Italian and French repertoire the great power of her musical and dramatic expression enjoys worldwide demand in the roles of Eboli, Amneris, and Didon. With her sensational performance as Santuzza under the baton of Ricardo Muti she conquered the Italian audience.

Waltraud Meier has collaborated with such significant directors as Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, Luc Bondy, Harry Kupfer, Götz Friedrich, Klaus-Michael Grüber, and Patrice Chéreau. Great directors, above all Daniel Baren- boim, Riccardo Muti, Claudio Abbado, James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Christian Thielemann, and Valery Gergiev, have come to appreciate the extraordinary fusion of passion, creativity, and clear intellect in the strength of Waltraud Meier‘s musical personality.

At the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris the singer gave a triumphant performance in Parsifal (Klaus-Michael Grü- ber / Semyon Bychkov), as she had done before in 1991 at La Scala under the direction of Riccardo Muti. Her close artistic collaboration with Barenboim and the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden as well as with the Bavarian State Opera of Munich has taken her on regular tours to Japan, her performances there including Die Walküre, Wozzeck, Tristan, and Fidelio. There then followed, to name but a few of the highlights, premi- eres at the Munich Opera Festival as Didon in Les Troyens and new productions at the Salzburg Festival (Isol- de) and L‘Opéra de la Bastille (Isolde). In Chicago she debuted as Leonore in Fidelio, again under the baton of Daniel Barenboim. In this role Waltraud Meier was to give a brilliant performance in both Munich and Milan.

Her extremely fruitful collaboration with Patrice Chéreau on Alban Berg‘s Wozzeck brought about the desire for further joint productions. At the ope- ning of the 2007/2008 Scala season Waltraud Meier sang - again with Baren- boim - in Chéreau‘s psychologically deeply profound production of Tristan and Isolde.

For years Waltraud Meier had close links with the concerns and aims of the West-Eastern-Divan Orchestra with whom she works on many tours.

As a singer and artist Waltraud Meier never ceases to seek out new challenges and to venture on new paths. She also concentrates on singing in its purest form, devoting her 2003/2004 season exclusively to recitals and concerts. Since then she commits a large part of her work to this expressive potential.

The following years will see Waltraud Meier not only deepen and accentuate her repertoire as a singer and performer, but also expand it with new roles. In the summer of 2010 she appeared as Klytämnestra at the Salzburg Festival. In addition she continued her collaboration with Patrice Chéreau with a staged improvisation of Wagner‘s Wesendonck Lieder at the Louvre Museum.

An extensive discography and videography as well as many productions available on DVD testify to the ver- satility of this unique singer‘s power of interpretation, musicality, vocal beauty, and art of singing. A highly acclaimed winner of many awards Waltraud Meier was honored with the title of „Kammersängerin“ by both the Bavarian State Opera and the Vienna State Opera. She lives in Munich.