The British are coming

The driving force behind the project is Rudi Eastwood, a London-born pianist-turned-conductor and graduate of U.K.’s prestigious Royal Academy of Music, who feels that British classical music remains a missing link in the repertoires of many Russian orchestras.

The Festival of British Music, tentatively scheduled for November, is set to showcase “the sheer wealth and diversity of British music,” as Eastwood puts it. The program features music by British composers from the 17th century to contemporary works. Perhaps the youngest name on the playbill will be Eastwood’s brother, composer Michael Eastwood, who has been commissioned a work.

The two week-long event will feature seven performances, including two orchestra concerts, three chamber recitals and a theatrical show.

The festival aims to give center stage to up-and-coming British performing talent. The organizers have invited the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year, Tom Poster, to play Ireland’s concerto alongside the Russian orchestra with Eastwood conducting.

The State Academic Cappella Symphony Orchestra has agreed to perform the festival’s final concert — at the Cappella’s home venue — in the program of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, Vaughan Williams’ Sinfonia Antarctica for soprano solo, female chorus and orchestra, and a new work commissioned by the festival.

The concerts will be held in different venues throughout the city, including the State Academic Capella, the Sheremetev Palace and the beautiful theatre of the Hermitage Museum.

Festival takes place from 1^st November till 30^th November.