Artyom Vargaftik (author of the series, host)

Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra

Conductor – Arman Tigranyan

State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia (Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra) for 75 years has been one of the leading orchestras of Russia and a special pride of this country's musical culture.

The ensemble's debut performance took place on 5 October 1936, at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. Only a few months later, it went on an extensive tour around the former USSR. 

From its inception, the orchestra has been led by the finest musicians such as its founder Alexander Gauk (1936-1941); Natan Rakhlin (1941-1945), who guided it through the difficult World War II years; Konstantin Ivanov (1945-1965), who, for the first time, took it on international tours; and "the last romantic of the 20th century", Evgeny Svetlanov (1965-2000). Under Svetlanov's leadership the orchestra became one of the world's best, and its repertoire has grown to include virtually all Russian symphonic music, nearly all Western classics, and countless works by contemporary composers. From 2000 to 2002 the orchestra was headed by Vassily Sinaisky, and from 2002 to 2011, by Mark Gorenstein.

On 24 October 2011 Vladimir Jurowski is appointed an artistic director of State Symphony Orchestra of Russia.
On 27 October 2005, the name of Evgeny Fedorovich Svetlanov became part of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia official name in recognition of his invaluable contribution to Russian musical culture.

The orchestra performs at such prestigious venues as the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall (Moscow), Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington, D. C.), Musikverein (Vienna), Albert Hall (London), Salle Pleyel (Paris), Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), and Suntory Hall (Tokyo).

The list of world renowned and legendary figures who graced the podium of the orchestra as guest conductors includes H. Abendroth, A. Cluytens, V. Gergiev, N. Golovanov, M. Jansons, E. Kleiber, K. Kondrashin, K. Masur, A. Melik-Pashaev, Y. Menuhin, E. Mravinsky, C. Munch, M. Rostropovich, G. Rozhdestvensky, S. Samosud, and Y. Temirkanov to name a few.

Among the outstanding soloists who have performed with the orchestra are I. Arkhipova, Yu. Bashmet, M. Caballe, P. Domingo, A Fischer, Gilels, N. Gutman, O. Kagan, L. Kogan, V. Krainev, M. Long Y. Menuhin, D. Oistrakh, N. Petrov, M. Pletnev, S. Richter, V. Spivakov, V. Tretyakov, and E. Virsaladze. Recently, this stellar roster was expanded to add A. Baeva, A. Buzlov, M. Fedotov, M. Gulegina, D. Hvorostovsky, E. Kissin, A. Knyazev, A. Korobeinikov, M. Kultyshev, N. Lugansky, D. Matsuev, V. Rudenko, A. Rudin, and M. Vengerov.

After its first tour abroad in 1956, the orchestra has regularly represented Russian culture in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the US, and other countries and participated in the major international festivals and charitable events.

The ensemble devotes a great deal of time to touring Russian cities and also, to charitable activities, including free performances at the country's hospitals, schools, and orphanages.

The orchestra's discography includes hundreds of recordings released by leading Russian and foreign labels such as Melodiya, Bomba-Piter, EMI Classics, BMG, Naxos, Chandos, Musikproduktion Dabringhaus und Grimm, and others. The special place in this list belongs to the famous Anthology of the Russian Symphonic Music encompassing audio recordings of Russian composers from Glinka to Glazunov, a Svetlanov's project, to which he dedicated many years.

The orchestra's creative biography is a succession of triumphant achievements that have secured its permanent place in the annals of world culture.

At King Herod’s palace, the young captain Narraboth admires the beautiful princess Salome, who sits at the banquet table with her stepfather, Herod, and his court. A page warns Narraboth that something terrible might happen if he continues to stare at the princess, but Narraboth won’t listen. The voice of Jochanaan is heard from the cistern, where he is kept prisoner, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah, and two soldiers comment on the prophet’s kindness and Herod’s fear of him.

Suddenly Salome appears, disgusted with Herod’s advances toward her and bored by his guests. Jochanaan’s voice is heard again, cursing the sinful life of Salome’s mother, Herodias. Salome asks about the prophet. The soldiers refuse to allow her to speak with him, but Narraboth, unable to resist her, orders that Jochanaan be brought forth from the cistern. At first terrified by the sight of the holy man, Salome quickly becomes fascinated by his appearance, begging him to let her touch his hair, then his skin, and finally his lips. Jochanaan forcefully rejects her. Narraboth, who can’t bear Salome’s desire for another man, stabs himself. Salome, not noticing him and beside herself with excitement, continues to beg for Jochanaan’s kiss. The prophet tells her to save herself by seeking Christ and retreats into the cistern, cursing Salome.

Herod appears from the palace, looking for the princess and commenting on the strange look of the moon. When he slips in Narraboth’s blood, he suddenly panics and has hallucinations. Herodias angrily dismisses his fantasies and asks him to go back inside with her, but Herod’s attentions are now focused on Salome. He offers her food and wine, but she rejects his advances. From the cistern, Jochanaan resumes his tirades against Herodias, who demands that Herod turn the prophet over to the Jews. Herod refuses, maintaining that Jochanaan is a holy man and has seen God. His words spark an argument among the Jews concerning the true nature of God, and two Nazarenes talk about the miracles of Jesus. As Jochanaan continues to accuse her, Herodias demands that he be silenced.

Herod asks Salome to dance for him. She refuses, but when he promises to give her anything she wants, she agrees once she has made him swear to keep his word. Ignoring her mother’s pleas not to, Salome dances seductively, removing her clothes. The delighted king wants to know what reward she would like, and she innocently asks for the head of Jochanaan on a silver platter. Horrified, the king refuses, while Herodias laughs approvingly at Salome’s choice. Herod offers other rewards, but Salome insists and reminds Herod of his oath. The king finally gives in. As the executioner descends into the cistern, the princess anxiously and impatiently awaits her prize. When the prophet’s head is brought to her, she passionately addresses Jochanaan as if he were still alive and finally kisses his lips. The terrified Herod, outraged and disgusted at Salome’s behavior, orders the soldiers to kill her.