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The 30-day InClassica International Music Festival is drawing closer to its completion, but as yesterday's concert showed, the calibre of its roster has not dimmed in the slightest. Two legends of Russian classical music lit up the Coca-Cola Arena, with those in attendance being treated to performances by both cellist Alexander Kniazev and pianist Mikhail Pletnev. Performing works by Richard Wagner and Alexey Shor, the two musicians teamed up with the Russian National Orchestra for the evening's concert, who were led by the Armenian conductor Sergey Smbatyan.

The InClassica International Music Festival 2021 features musicians who dedicate themselves to their craft with devotion and passion, and audiences whose love of classical music carries them to the abode of spiritual pleasure far from everyday life. It is a place where astonishing young talent meets some of the world’s most established and famous musicians, and where new and remarkable careers are given a unique platform to shine — all this in dedication to music, and the shared ideals of friendship and international cooperation that reside at the heart of culture and the arts worldwide.

Acclaimed violinist Maxim Vengerov adorned the InClassica stage once more yesterday evening, delighting audiences in attendance with renditions of music by Maurice Ravel, Jules Massenet, and Composer-in-Residence Alexey Shor. Joining him were the Russian National Orchestra, who have also returned to deliver a number of additional concerts at the Coca-Cola Arena, serving under the baton of Armenian conductor Sergey Symbatyan. 

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Russian violinist Roman Simovic and South Korean pianist Yekwon Sunwoo both took to the stage for yesterday's InClassica concert, with the two soloists teaming up with the Kaliningrad Symphony Orchestra and conductor Mikhail Kirchoff to present a programme including Alexander Borodin's Symphony No. 2, as well as Sergei Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1, and the renowned, and famously intimidating Piano Concerto No. 2. 

Renowned pianist Julia Zilberquit and violist David Aaron Carpenter both made appearances at yesterday's InClassica concert, presenting a programme of works alongside the Kaliningrad Symphony Orchestra that included offerings from Zoltán Kodály, Béla Bartók, and Robert Schumann to mark the KSO's first performance at the festival's evening concerts.

Russian pianist Andrey Gugnin delivered a unique performance of contemporary composer Alexey Shor's 'Childhood Memories', which had been initially written for piano solo, but has been specially arranged for piano and orchestra by the composer himself to be performed by Gugnin and the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz under the baton of Michael Francis. Following this piece, the orchestra also returned after the intermission to deliver an awe-inspiring rendition of Igor Stravinsky's 'The Firebird', which left audiences in a 15-minute long standing ovation.  

Legendary Italian soprano Carmen Giannattasio delivered a night with a difference at InClassica as she performed Alexey Shor's Crystal Palace Suite in collaboration with the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz and their Principal Conductor Michael Francis. For the second part the orchestra returned on stage alone to deliver a rendition of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Symphony No. 5.

Italian violinist Anna Tifu teamed up with Michael Francis and the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz to present a performance of the relatively underplayed, but beautiful 'Poeme', by Ernest Chausson. Bookending her appearnance, Francis and the orchestra also performed Robert Schumann's 'Manfred Overture' to start the evening at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena, and Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 1 to finish it off.

US violinist Stella Chen, one of the most exciting young musicians in the classical music world today, arrived at InClassica last night, joining forces with the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz and their conductor Michael Francis for a programme of works consisiting of pieces by Johannes Brahms,  Alexey Shor, and Ludwig van Beethoven.