A presentation concert of the TV BRICS International Symphony Orchestra took place in Moscow. The event, held in the year of Russia’s BRICS Chairmanship, was attended by top officials from the embassies of the BRICS countries (Brazil, India, China, South Africa, UAE), as well as countries of Africa, Latin America, South-East Asia and the CIS (Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Venezuela, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Qatar, Myanmar, etc.). The guests of honour also included representatives of diplomatic and business circles, government authorities, Russian and international public organisations, cultural institutions, and heads of leading media of the BRICS+ countries.

Special Representative of the Russian President for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, addressed the participants with an opening welcoming speech.

“I express my gratitude to the participants and organisers of today’s event and cannot but note that the TV BRICS International Orchestra has appeared in Russia, a country that has been absorbing the cultures of East and West, North and South for centuries” said Shvydkoy.

He noted that the emergence of the multinational TV BRICS musical group will have a significant impact on the development and strengthening of dialogue between the BRICS countries.

The TV BRICS orchestra presented listeners with original compositions based on the national music of Brazil, India, China, and original interpretations of famous pop works of the BRICS countries: the ensemble performed the festive Chinese New Year overture, “Indian Guests” by Ravi Shankar, compositions by South African rock artist Arno Carstens and a semi-pop symphonic fantasy “Brazil” by Konstantin Dubenko, as well as masterpieces of world classics (overture to the opera “The Thieving Magpie” by Gioachino Rossini, aria of the Queen of the Night from the opera “The Magic Flute” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, intermission to the IV act of the opera “Carmen” by Georges Bizet). 

It is planned that the repertoire of the TV BRICS orchestra will be filled with national music and works by contemporary composers from the ten BRICS and BRICS+ countries. The orchestra’s musical repertoire will also reflect memorable dates in the history of world classical music: for example, at the presentation of the TV BRICS orchestra, the symphonic picture “The Three Miracles” from the opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov was performed in honour of the 180th anniversary of the composer’s birth.

The musical evening opened with an overture written by People’s Artist of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic Murat Kabardokov especially for the TV BRICS orchestra.

The soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre Olga Pudova and soloist of the Helikon Opera Dmitry Yankovsky performed on stage with the TV BRICS orchestra. Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the TV BRICS International Symphony Orchestra is Maestro Mikhail Golikov.

“This is an incredible, extraordinary and incomparable event. We have not just launched today a new platform for cultural exchange, building bridges between the national cultures of the BRICS countries and between those musicians, composers and performing schools that are present in these countries. We did something more. We launched into the world the idea of a new agenda for the future. To make the future today what the next generation will see it in 50 years” said Mikhail Golikov.

He added that one of the main goals of the TV BRICS International Symphony Orchestra for the near future is to attract even more of the very best musicians from all over the world.

“Only Russian musicians played in today’s TV BRICS orchestra line-up. We have gathered the best musicians from St. Petersburg, Moscow and some other Russian cities. But that’s just the beginning. In the future, of course, there will be musicians from many countries in this orchestra. The creation of such an ensemble is dictated by the great desire of the TV BRICS media platform itself and me as the organising conductor, we are sure that the best musicians of the world should be in such an ensemble,” said Mikhail Golikov.

Irina Gerasimova, CEO and Artistic Director of the “Orpheus” Russian State Musical TV and Radio Centre, said that she hopes that the orchestra will spread the Russian culture across the world.

“I hope that we will do a lot to ensure that Russian culture, thanks to this wonderful collective, spreads around the world. I wish the orchestra excellent programmes that will tell not only about the classical music of the West and Russia that we are used to, but also include beautiful compositions that are popular in Brazil, India and all other BRICS countries. <…> Music is the best way to communicate because it does not require translation” said Irina Gerasimova.

The main activity of the orchestra is participation in international projects, performing classical and folklore instrumental music for radio recordings and TV broadcasts. The group’s plans for the 2024 season include touring the BRICS countries, co-operation with composers’ unions and national folklore schools of the association in order to implement joint projects.

Zuo Zhenguan, Honoured Art Worker of the Russian Federation, also shared his sentiment.

“The creation of such an international orchestra is the first event of its kind on this scale. Music brings everyone together; skin color, language, and religion of the performers and listeners are not important to it. The TV BRICS International Orchestra is a vivid example of the unifying power of art” said Zuo Zhenguan.

Almir Ribeiro Americo, head of the Russian office of the Brazilian Export Development Agency (APEX-Brasil), shared his impressions of the concert.

“I have no words to express my admiration for the level of professionalism of the orchestra. Congratulations to TV BRICS for such an achievement. Brazil admires Russian culture. We have always loved it and we need to get to know it even better. Culture is the best way to bring our peoples closer together. I have great hope for this year, with Russia leading the BRICS. I am sure all the activities will be carried out at the highest level” said Almir Ribeiro Americo.

The TV BRICS International Symphony Orchestra was established in October 2023 on the basis of the TV BRICS Media Network to promote the achievements of the BRICS countries in the field of culture, musical art and classical music in the global media space. The orchestra takes into account in its activities the experience of major national media organisations that have their own symphony orchestras: BBC (UK), ZDF, WDR, NDR (Germany), NHK (Japan), Gosteleradio of the USSR (Soviet Union) and its current successor Radio Orpheus (Russia).

African Times published this article in partnership with International Media Network TV BRICS.