They're coming back

The Bolshoi Theater, which resigned from the position of chief conductor after parting with Alexander Vedernikov, began actively collaborating with conductors from the short list of “main invitees” that was published back in the summer. Of the five maestros, only one Teodor Currentzis has already worked in a Bolshoi theater production. Berg's Wozzeck, despite the fact that the conductor and the orchestra, as they say, found a common language with some difficulty at first, was musically done with care and quality.

Other conductors (with the exception of Kirill Petrenko, who will appear at the Bolshoi only a few seasons later) have performed with the Bolshoi Theater orchestra in symphony programs. Vladimir Yurovsky - a year ago. Vasily Sinaisky and Alexander Lazarev - only now, actually one after another and with great resonance.

Both are among the most authoritative Russian conductors of that generation who managed to gain considerable fame in their homeland even before the local orchestral and symphonic life entered the phase of reconstruction. This is largely why their return to the Bolshoi and to working with Russian orchestras in general is perceived by the public and musicians more easily and with more enthusiasm than the appearance at the controls of young Russians who have formed in the West.

Like many significant Russian conductors, Sinaisky and Lazarev went to work in Europe in the 90s. They visited their homeland sporadically, while actively building their international reputation. Attempts to bring them home on any permanent basis were unsuccessful.

After leaving the Bolshoi Theater, where Lazarev was chief conductor from 1987 to 1995 (at the same time heading the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1992-1995), he did not appear in Russia at all for a long time. He returned only four seasons ago, and his difficult program with the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra this season (just like a few days ago, his performance with the Fedoseevsky Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra) caused ecstatic delight among the public and the musicians themselves (see Vremya Novostey, October 6) .

Vasily Sinaisky worked a little at the Bolshoi in the 90s, but in reality he was already working hard in Europe. In 2000-2002, he was listed as the chief conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra, which became decrepit and demoralized after Svetlanov’s dismissal. The most successful program at that time turned out to be one program - Mahler's Second Symphony “Resurrection”. The Second Mahler and Sinaisky, sounded a year after the percussion performance of this symphony in Moscow by Gergiev and the Mariinsky, gave hope: they were waiting for the State Symphony Orchestra to resurrect. But this did not happen.

Now with the same symphony (a month ago, having also played it with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra) and with the participation of the magnificent soprano Katarina Karneus, Sinaisky returned to the Bolshoi Theater orchestra, which, unlike the State Symphony Orchestra ten years ago, does not at all need to be resurrected, but is now going through a period of subtle settings for a new life. Vasily SINAYSKY and Alexander LAZAREV told Vremya Novostey about how the conductors saw him, about their return and where and how they had to return.