IX INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
«THREE CENTURIES OF CLASSIC ROMANCE (LIED)»

June 24 - July 2, 2011
Saint Petersburg

Since 2003 St. Petersburg welcomes annual International Festival-Competition “Three centuries of classic romance (Lied)”.

Key ideas and goals of the Festival and Competition:

• development of the artistic and professional traditions of the chamber vocal music-making as integral part of the society’s musical culture;
• involvement of the world’s leading singers in the musical life of the city;
• update and expansion of the performing repertory by means of modern composers’ works, reviving of the classical romance (Lied) genre in the contemporary music;
• bringing back to life unjustly forgotten works from the musical heritage of the past centuries
• selection of the talented young performers.

The main goal of the Festival is promotion of the chamber vocal genre, the latter being least commercial in concert practice of today and declining in its popularity among the general public and performing artists themselves. A great deal of singing repertory is comprised of Lied. Every voice-and-piano miniature is a whole life in itself, sort of one-man show, or, being more accurate, show for the two as the piano part (rôle) is the center of personage’s inner feelings, reflection of his emotional and psychological state. Thus, the pianist becomes an equal partner in the Lied genre. This year within the frame of the Festival we have competition of the voice and piano duos. Novelty of this idea is that both partners equally share the responsibility in the competing process and get equal prizes. It is important that young performers from outside of St. Petersburg will have a chance to listen to their favorite singers and pianists, to learn from them that is so crucial for young artists as it sets the highest standards to strive for.