Interview
Witnessing history: Vladimir Ashkenazy
Before launching his series Voices of Revolution with the Philharmonia Orchestra to mark the centenary of the Russian Revolution, Vladimir Ashkenazy recalls his experiences as a young Soviet pianist, his memories of Shostakovich and his witnessing history in the making.
Russia month
Disentangling truth from propaganda: Leningrad
Many stories have been told about the genesis of the Leningrad Symphony, not least by Shostakovich himself and his many friends.
Russia Month
Music of the Russian Revolution
When the Bolshevik Revolution and subsequent civil war smashed through Russian society a hundred years ago, the close links between Russian and European music, and between Russian art, music and literature were shattered, and a new artistic world had to be built on what was left.
Postcard
Postcard from St Petersburg
With great music, exceptional palaces and unique architecture, if you have any pretensions to knowing the great cities of the world, Saint Petersburg just has to be on your bucket list.
Tchaikovsky Ballets
Stepping into Tchaikovsky Ballet: Swan Lake
Ask anyone who claims to know nothing about ballet to actually name one, the chances are it will be one of Tchaikovsky's.
Preview
From Russia to Cardiff: Russian Revolution in Wales
As we hurtle towards October and the centenary of the Russian Revolution, 18 organisations in Wales have banded together in a show of artistic muscle to mark the anniversary.
Russia month
Russian Composers and History
In attempting to cement a sense of Russian identity through music, the nation's composers looked to history for inspiration.
Russia month
Soviet composers in the late 20th century
The list of great Soviet composers over the last hundred years will always bring out the big names, but what about those unsung heroes of the late 20th century whose music captures the mood of a generation?
Tchaikovsky Ballets
Symphonic storytelling: The Sleeping Beauty
The Sleeping Beauty is perhaps the Ugly Duckling of Tchaikovsky’s three ballets. It was the second in the trilogy, completed in 1889, but has neither the dramatic thrust of Swan Lake nor the calorific sugar-coated charm of The Nutcracker in terms of popular appeal.
Tchaikovsky ballets
The Nutcracker: casting a Christmas spell
Along with chestnuts, turkey and Carols from Kings, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without The Nutcracker. It has become a staple part of the festive season.
Here is the page where you can discover the best classical music events taking place in Russia. Whether you are looking for concerts, opera or dance, at Bachtrack you can browse upcoming events in Moscow and St Petersburg. You can also read our reviews and a number of articles about Russian music.
Upcoming eventsSee more...
St PetersburgRussian Music Seasons
Tchaikovsky, Khachaturian, Borodin, Balakirev, Prokofiev
MoscowUn ballo in mascheraNew Production
Verdi: Un ballo in maschera
Giacomo Sagripanti; Davide Livermore; Bolshoi Opera; Mariana Fracasso; Bolshoi Theatre Chorus; Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra
MoscowJenůfa
Janáček: Jenůfa
Evgeny Brazhnik; Alexander Titel; Stanislavsky Opera; Vladimir Arefiev; Elena Stepanova; Elena Guseva; Elena Bezgodkova
St PetersburgThe Queen of Spades (Pique-Dame)
Tchaikovsky: The Queen of Spades (Pique-Dame)
Mariinsky Opera; Mariinsky Theatre Chorus; Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra
St PetersburgRaymonda
Glazunov: Raymonda
Marius Petipa; Konstantin Sergeyev; Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra
MoscowMadama Butterfly
Puccini: Madama Butterfly
Vyacheslav Volich; Ludmila Naletova; Stanislavsky Opera; Elena Stepanova; Elena Guseva; Irina Vashchenko
Latest reviewsSee more...
The Bolshoi: Danish dancing with a Russian touch
The Bolshoi dancers Anna Tikhomiova and Artemy Belyakov shine in the stylish and poetic version of La Sylphide by Johan Kobborg.
Mieczysław Weinberg's The Idiot at the Bolshoi Theatre
Completed in 1985 and premièred in Mannheim in 2013, Mieczysław Weinberg's The Idiot is a true rarity. Seeing it revived for the first time, it's thrilling to see the opera given the vocal and musical treatment it desrves, lending a helping hand to its return from oblivion.
The epitome of Russianness: Boris Godunov at the Mariinsky
In Tarkovsky's venerable production, the Mariinsky orchestra and chorus are brilliant – but too brilliant for their soloists, including two replacement Borises for an indisposed Mikhail Petrenko.
Intoxicating, mystic, sacred, profane
Rodion Shchedrin's opera mixes singing, choreography and storytelling to lend a potent sacred and mystic overlay to Nikolai Leskov's folk tale.
Netrebko takes on Adriana Lecouvreur at the Mariinsky
Isabelle Patriot-Pieri's new production is a quirky mix of traditional and the opposite; Netrebko shows her star quality; Eyvasov impresses.
The Mariinsky celebrate Stravinsky's 135th
Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra celebrate Stravinsky with a gala that closes with an outstanding Firebird; young talent blooms in A Soldier's Tale