The Novgorod Kremlin became the epicenter of a late August 2026 musical event — a festival dedicated to the works of S.V. Rachmaninoff. The event offered vivid impressions and introductions to new performers to over 10,000 spectators.

The S.V. Rachmaninoff Festival in Veliky Novgorod

“Over these three days, the city turned into a musical frenzy in the best sense of the word. This is a completely new story, a new chapter of our festival. I tell everyone: come to Veliky Novgorod!” emphasized People's Artist of Russia Denis Matsuev.

Grand Opening and Gala Concert

The festival began with a ceremonial gala concert featuring legendary works by Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff performed by People's Artist of Russia and virtuoso pianist Denis Matsuev. Soloists on the Main Stage also included:

• Andrey Perezhohin (violin)
• Polina Thai (cello)
• Emir Zakaria (piano)
• Maria Barakova (mezzo-soprano)
• Maxim Selinenkov (balalaika)

The Deputy Governor of Novgorod Region, Elena Kirilova, delivered a welcoming speech: “The greatest composer, pianist, and conductor Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff returned here again and again in his memories. It is very valuable that today we continue to preserve his world. Another important step on our path is the large-scale S.V. Rachmaninoff Festival held for the third time in the genius's homeland and for the first time on a large summer stage.”

Unique Multimedia Performance “Symphony of Innovations”

The second day of the festival featured an unusual project — the multimedia performance “Symphony of Innovations.” On one stage, generative graphics, holograms, robotics, and artificial intelligence combined with the orchestra and soloists:

• Gleb Peryazev (bass)
• Polina Shabunina (soprano)
• Vasily Stepanov (cello)
• Alexander Klyuchko (piano)
• Stanislav Korchagin (piano)
• Olga Sizykh (soloist of the MAMT ballet)

Moscow State Symphony Orchestra and Conductors

The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra accompanied the festival throughout all days. The conductors alternated at the podium:

• Honored Artist of Russia Ivan Rudin
• Laureate of the International Competition for Pianists, Composers, and Conductors named after S.V. Rachmaninoff, Oleg Khudyakov
• Laureate of international and all-Russian competitions Yuri Medyanik

Denis Matsuev’s Solo Concert

A solo concert by Denis Matsuev was held at the Novgorod Regional Philharmonic named after A.S. Arensky. The pianist presented for the first time a new program by P.I. Tchaikovsky, demonstrating impeccable skill and new facets of his talent.

Final Evening: Musical Experiment “Symphojazz”

The festival concluded with the concert program “Symphojazz” — a musical experiment blending classical academic music with jazz improvisation. The star lineup of soloists included:

• Denis Matsuev (piano)
• Artem Baskakov (double bass)
• David Tkebuchava (drums)
• Ekaterina Mochalova (domra)
• Arkady Shilkloper (French horn, alphorn)
• Vladimir Syanov (flute)
• Sophia Tyurina (saxophone)

Additional Events and Youth Program

The festival was not limited to the main venue. For three days, young talents — chamber ensembles from across Russia — performed on the Small Stage. Additionally, renowned musicologist Ivan Sokolov hosted engaging talks about Rachmaninoff’s work and contemporary musical art.

Special attention was given to the youngest festival guests, with a dedicated program that included:

• The operetta “The Snail and the Whale”
• The musical play “A Goat Walked Through the Forest”
• The project “My First Rachmaninoff” (author and host - Maria Kholkina)
• The symphonic fairy tale “Peter and the Wolf” by S.S. Prokofiev, featuring People's Artist of Russia, actress and TV presenter Anna Mikhalkova as narrator

“This is the first time a festival of this scale has taken place in Veliky Novgorod. There are very few large classical music open-air events like this in our country. We worked hard on the program and it was important for us to hit the mark every day. Therefore, all three days were diverse, multi-genre, each special in its own way. We are glad that the people of Novgorod and the city’s guests appreciated this vibrant project,” noted Deputy General Director of FSBI ROSCONCERT Ekaterina Shiryaeva.

The project is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Novgorod Region. The organizer is FSBI ROSCONCERT with the participation of OAUCI “NOTKA.”

Source: https://www.intermedia.ru/news/406201