Biography
Celebrated its 65th Anniversary in 2008, the MOSCOW STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (MSSO) is acclaimed as one of the greatest orchestras from a cultural tradition rich with extraordinary symphonic ensembles.
Founded in 1943 by Lev Steinberg, the MSSO quickly established a reputation as one of the premier interpreters of the Russian "classic" composers. Under the subsequent leadership of Nikolai Anosov and Leo Ginzburg, the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra developed relationships with the most prominent Russian Twentieth Century musicians and composers, including many premieres of Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Myaskovsky, and Gliere. The Orchestra also had the distinction of performing under the directorship of the well-known Soviet female conductor, Veronika Dudarova.
Since Pavel Kogan assumed the positions of Music Director and Chief Conductor in 1989, the MSSO has steadily expanded its repertoire beyond the classics of Russian and Western symphonic literature to include contemporary compositions from both Russia and abroad. A landmark of the MSSO was to present cycles of "Complete symphonies..." by composers of the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of these cycles were recorded and received the critical praise from both Russian and Western listeners. Among contemporary composers whose music was premiered by the MSSO are Mieczyslaw Weinberg, Andrei Petrov and Georgy Dmitriev. The MSSO also claims rich collaborations with such artists as Evgeny Svetlanov, Kirill Kondrashin, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Alexander Orlov, Natan Rachlin, Samuil Samosud, Valery Gergiev, Emil Gilels, Leonid Kogan, David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Vladimir Sofronitskiy, Sergey Lemeshev, Ivan Kozlovsky, Sviatoslav Knushevitsky, Sviatoslav Richter, Daniil Shafran, Maksim Vengerov, Vadim Repin, Denis Matsuev, Efim Bronfman and Angela Gheorghiu.
In addition to its regular appearances at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory and performances throughout Russia, the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra has been enthusiastically received throughout the major musical centers of the world. The MSSO has engaged in extensive international touring, visiting over 50 countries under Kogan and performing 20-50 concerts abroad each year, including the most prestigious concert halls of Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Japan, Hong Kong, North Korea, South Korea, Australia, and the United States.
The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra also appears regularly at major Russian and European festivals including the Moscow Autumn Festival, the Russian Winter Festival, St. Petersburg's White Nights, the Moscow Stars Festival, Prague Spring, and festivals in Helsinki, Dubrovnik, Montreaux, Lugano, Locarno, Merano, Munich, Flanders, and Saint-Requier.
MOSCOW STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Pavel Kogan, Music Director & Chief Conductor
