SUNDAY

JANUARY 19, AT 7PM

Hermitage, Atrium of the General Staff Building

Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

Celebrating 100 Years of a Timeless Classic

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Hermitage, Atrium of the General Staff Building

Palace Square, 6/8, Saint Petersburg

Join us for an unforgettable evening—a musical journey across continents and eras, celebrating the classical and jazz traditions of the "New World" in honor of the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's legendary "Rhapsody in Blue". This program highlights the rich cultural heritage of America and Europe, featuring the highly anticipated European premiere of Wm Joseph Heart's "A Gershwin Herald", a musical tribute to Gershwin's iconic masterpiece.

Concert duration:

Two parts of 45 minutes with a 20-minute intermission

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Concert Program
George Gershwin - "An American in Paris"
symphonic poem

Inspired by Gershwin's trip to Paris, this symphonic poem captures the sounds and rhythms of the city through a unique blend of classical orchestration and jazz motifs. "An American in Paris" transports listeners into the role of a tourist strolling through Parisian streets, hearing everything—from lively conversations to the sound of car horns.

Performed by:

Conductor

Daiana HOFFMANN

Symphony Orchestra "Tavrichesky"

George Gershwin - "Rhapsody in Blue"
for piano and orchestra

This famous Rhapsody, celebrating its 100th anniversary this season, stands as one of Gershwin’s most iconic works, merging jazz and classical music into a cultural landmark. In this piece, Gershwin creates a musical journey that captures the spirit of freedom, energy, and passion of early 20th-century New York, featuring a vibrant blues theme, free-flowing rhythm, and expressive piano artistry.

Performed by:

Pianist

Mikhail BENEDIKTOV

Conductor

Daiana HOFFMANN

Symphony Orchestra "Tavrichesky"

Joseph Heart - "A Gershwin Herald"

for piano and orchestra (European premiere)

This tonal poem is a musical dialogue with Gershwin. Inspired by the soaring skyscrapers and energy of Rhapsody in Blue, composer Joseph Heart crafted a work that captures stylistic elements and themes from Gershwin's life. A Gershwin Herald paints the sounds of bustling New York, evoking the clicks of teletypes, departing trains, and noisy streets, allowing the audience to once again experience the power of the jazz age.

Performed by:

Pianist

Mikhail BENEDIKTOV

Conductor

Daiana HOFFMANN

Symphony Orchestra "Tavrichesky"

Leonard Bernstein - "Chichester Psalms"

for choir and orchestra

Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms is a vibrant and lyrical choral work composed in 1965, blending Hebrew texts from the Psalms with a captivating mix of classical, Broadway, and jazz influences. Written for a boy soprano (or countertenor), choir, and orchestra, it showcases Bernstein's signature rhythmic vitality and melodic richness. The piece, commissioned for the Chichester Cathedral Festival in England, celebrates themes of unity, peace, and spiritual reflection, making it a beloved work in the choral repertoire.

Performed by:

Children's Choir of Television and Radio of St. Petersburg

Conductor

Daiana HOFFMANN

Symphony Orchestra "Tavrichesky"

Композиторы

COMPOSER

George Gershwin (1898-1937)


George Gershwin was a trailblazing American composer and pianist whose work seamlessly blended classical traditions with jazz and popular music. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gershwin began his career writing popular songs and Broadway scores with his brother Ira Gershwin as lyricist. He rose to fame with masterpieces like Rhapsody in Blue (1924), which defined the American sound of the Jazz Age, and An American in Paris (1928), a vivid orchestral work inspired by his travels. His opera Porgy and Bess (1935), featuring classics like Summertime, remains a landmark in American music. Gershwin’s ability to synthesize genres and his gift for melody left an enduring legacy, making him one of the most influential composers of the 20th century.

COMPOSER

Joseph Heart


William Joseph Heart is an accomplished pianist and composer whose career spans classical and jazz traditions. A graduate of the New England Conservatory, he studied piano under Jacob Maxin and composition with prominent theorists, including Malcolm Peyton. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras, presenting works by Rachmaninoff, Khachaturian, Gershwin, and his own compositions.

Joseph is best known for his symphonic poem A Gershwin Herald, praised by conductor Benjamin Zander as “a masterpiece.” Deeply inspired by Gershwin’s legacy, his work celebrates the innovative spirit of the 1920s. In addition to music, Joseph explores visual arts and literature, currently completing a novel alongside new musical projects.

COMPOSER

Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990)


Leonard Bernstein was a legendary American composer, conductor, pianist, and educator who reshaped the world of classical music. A native of Massachusetts, Bernstein gained international fame as the music director of the New York Philharmonic, where he became known for his dynamic performances and groundbreaking Young People’s Concerts, which introduced classical music to new generations. His compositions span symphonies, ballets, operas, and Broadway, with West Side Story (1957) standing as one of his most famous achievements. Other notable works include Chichester Psalms, Candide, and his Mass, reflecting his diverse influences and commitment to exploring complex social and spiritual themes. Bernstein’s passion for music and his charismatic approach made him an enduring figure in 20th-century culture.

Artists

Conductor

Daiana Hoffmann

Symphony Orchestra

Tavrichesky

Pianist

Mikhail Benediktov

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    Daiana Hoffmann

    Conductor

    Daiana Hoffmann was born in St. Petersburg. She graduated with honors from the Music College at the St. Petersburg Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory (class of Distinguished Artist of Russia, Prof. B. Abalyan). From 2011 to 2013, she studied choral conducting at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory under Prof. B. Tevlin. In 2015, she earned a bachelor’s degree in symphonic conducting (class of Prof. Bojan Suđić) from the Academy of Music in Belgrade, Serbia, having won a state scholarship in 2013. She is currently continuing her studies in opera and symphonic conducting at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory under Assoc. Prof. Stanislav Dyachenko.


    Daiana has participated in master classes with renowned musicians, including Vladimir Ponkin, Dmitry Bashkirov, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Vladimir Jurowski, Ronald Zollman, Josef Doller, and Slawek Wrublewski. She has conducted the Belgrade Radio and Television Orchestra, the Belgrade Academy Student Symphony, the Moscow Conservatory Concert Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory Opera Theater, and the Moscow Conservatory Student Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her conducting career, she is an active performer as both a pianist and singer, and she is a winner of the international piano competition in Niš, Serbia.


    Daiana Hoffmann is the founder, artistic director, and conductor of the Moscow Youth Chamber Orchestra, with which she performs at premier venues in Moscow, including the Great Hall and Rachmaninoff Hall of the Moscow Conservatory.

    Symphony Orchestra "Tavrichesky"

    The International Symphony Orchestra Tavrichesky carries on the legacy of the historic Tavrichesky Capella Orchestra and Choir, preserving the rich cultural and artistic heritage of the past.

    The orchestra's journey began within the walls of the Taurida Palace, a site deeply intertwined with the history of symphonic music in Russia. In 2009, to mark the 220th anniversary of the Taurida Palace, the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS Member States, with the active support of Sergey Mironov, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, revitalized the Tavrichesky Capella, giving it a new chapter of life.

    The rebirth of this ensemble was inspired by the orchestra that once performed for Prince Grigory Potemkin in the Tavrichesky Palace. A great admirer of classical music, Prince Potemkin was captivated by innovative concert and theatrical experiments that became milestones in Russia’s cultural history during the reign of Catherine the Great.

    In the prince’s time, the palace housed symphonic and horn orchestras, an organ, and a drama troupe, forming the heart of the largest private capella in St. Petersburg. Potemkin took immense pride in this creation, sparing no expense in its support.

    Potemkin closely followed the cultural trends of Europe’s royal courts, embracing practices like the open-air performances inspired by Versailles’ famous celebrations. He brought these events to Russian soil, hosting lavish outdoor balls surrounded by fields, rivers, and lakes. Ever the innovator, he enhanced musical performances with cannon salutes and other creative flourishes of the time.

    Today, the Tavrichesky Orchestra continues this spirit of bold experimentation, performing in the most unexpected locations, from ski resorts to parks and museums.

    Under the leadership of People’s Artist of Kabardino-Balkaria, Mikhail Golikov, the orchestra remains dedicated to its mission of popularizing symphonic music. The Tavrichesky Orchestra introduces audiences to the timeless legacies of both Russian and international composers. Esteemed by stage masters and beloved by diverse audiences, the ensemble is a proud ambassador of classical music’s enduring power and innovation.

    Mikhail Benediktov

    Pianist

    Mikhail Benediktov was born in Leningrad in 1971. He graduated with honors from the Mussorgsky College of Music in 1989 and went on to study at Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Music. In 1992, he returned to the St. Petersburg State Conservatory, where he studied under Prof. E.V. Bazanov, later completing his postgraduate studies with Bazanov in 1999.


    From 2002 to 2008, Benediktov was a guest soloist with the Mariinsky Theatre. He has performed solo and ensemble concerts across Russia in cities such as Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, and Novosibirsk, as well as internationally in the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Israel, and South Korea.


    Benediktov has collaborated with prominent conductors, including V. Gergiev, D. Kitaenko, T. Adès, and M. Agrest, and has performed at prestigious venues such as the Mariinsky Theatre, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow International House of Music, Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, London’s Barbican Centre and Royal Albert Hall, and Berlin Philharmonie.


    He regularly gives masterclasses throughout Russia, Estonia, and South Korea and serves as a jury member for international competitions. From 1999 to 2020, he taught piano at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory and from 1997 to 2021 at the Mussorgsky College of Music. Currently, he teaches piano at the Special Music School of the St. Petersburg Conservatory. For his contributions to music education, Benediktov has twice received the St. Petersburg Government Award.