Annual gala concert of the Musical Olympus Festival took place in Carnegie Hall (New York) on March 3, 2013. This seventh addition of the Musical Olympus Foundation introduced the best modern classical music performers, winners of prestigious contests and participants of the annual Musical Olympus Festival in St. Petersburg.

The Signum Saxophone Quartet (Germany), Daniel Kharitonov (Russia, piano), Yunpeng Wang

(China, baritone) accompanied by Romanian pianist Cristina Stanescu, Yi-Ping Yang (Taiwan - France, percussion) were warmly welcomed by the audience. During the event musicians presented the famous works by G. Gershwin, S. Barber, G. Verdi, G. Donizetti, К. Schwitters, F. Liszt, P. Tchaikovsky, S. Rachmaninoff.

Irina Nikitina, the Musical Olympus Foundation President, comments: «All the listeners undoubtedly agreed that this concert was one of the best performances of the Musical Olympus in New York. All the artists showed unprecedented level of professionalism, individuality and talent. It was difficult for the listeners to choose their favorite”.

Traditionally at the end of the program the audience chose the best performer. This year the audience prize - Easter egg created by famous jeweler Vladimir Mikhailov - went to Daniel Kharitonov, a young pianist from Russia winning the listeners’ hearts by his brilliant performance of F. Liszt, P. Tchaikovsky, and S. Rachmaninoff 's works.

Annual gala concerts of the Musical Olympus Festival at Carnegie Hall are traditionally supported by the World Public Forum “Dialogue of Civilizations” (www.wpfdc.com). Concerts in New York contribute to Musical Olympus Foundation’s major mission, which is to establish and develop an intercultural dialogue through music as a universal language. Successful work of the Foundation was highly appreciated by the international community. Thus, January 2013, the Musical Olympus Foundation became a laureate of the prestigious prize in area of  communications development Silver Archer USA Awards.

CONCERT PROGRAM

George Gershwin (1898-­‐1937) / arr. SylvainDedenon

Suite after themes of Porgy and Bess (15’)

1.Jasbo Brown

2.Summertime

3.There's a boat leaving soon

4.Itain't necessarily so

5. Final

Samuel Barber (1919-­‐1981) /arr. Johan van der Linden

Adagio for Strings, op. 11 (8’)

Signum Saxophone Quartet (Germany)

First Prize, International Musical Competition (TIM), Verona (Italy), 2010

Blaž Kemperle // soprano saxophone

Erik Nestler // alto saxophone

Alan Lužar // tenor saxophone

David Brand // baritone saxophone

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

Aria of Rodrigo from Don Carlo (“Per me giunto”) (5:00)

JianfenGu    

“That is me”, Chinese art song (4:00)

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848_

Aria of  Belcore form L'elisird'amore (“Come Paridevezzoso”) (4:00)

Aria of Enrico from Lucia di Lammermoor (“Crudafunestasmania”) (6:00)

Yunpeng Wang (China), baritone,

The Second Prize and Audience Prize, PlacidoDomongo’s “Operalia” , the World Opera Competition, Beijin (China), 2012

Piano:  Cristina Stanescu

intermission

K. Schwitters (1887-1948)

"Ursonate"  ( adapted by Yi-Ping Yang).(12)

Yi-Ping Yang (Taiwan-France), percussion

First Prize, The TROMP International Music Competition, Eindhoven (The Netherlands), 2006.

F. Liszt (1811-1886)

Hungarian Rhapsody No.12  (10’)

P.Tchaikovsky (1840-1894)

“Meditation”, op.72, No. 5    (6)

S. Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)          

Prelude, op. 3, No.2, cis-moll (4’)

F. Liszt (1811-1886)

Transcendental  Etude No.10. f-moll   (3’30”) 
 

Daniel Kharitov (Russia), piano

First Prize, The International Television Competition “The Nutcracker”, Moscow (Russia), 2010