A grand concert at the National Centre RUSSIA marked the birthday of composer Eduard Artemyev

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Dedicated to the outstanding composer and pioneer of electronic music, Eduard Artemyev, who would have turned 87 on this day, the concert presented iconic hits by the maestro alongside works by young composers for whom Artemyev's art serves as a benchmark of mastery.

Performances of new works by young composers acted as a kind of "prologue" to showcasing Artemyev's creative legacy. Their music was harmoniously complemented by modern technologies and generative design. The innovative visual accompaniment was prepared by a team of Russian engineers using algorithms and neural network technologies.

"It is a great honor for the National Centre RUSSIA to gather fans of Eduard Artemyev's music today, as it rightfully stands as a national cultural treasure, uniting generations of Russians. Today, Artemyev's music has brought together listeners, musicians, and young composers inspired by his works. Their music was accompanied by visuals generated by a neural network, further proving that Artemyev's art connects time, space, creativity, and technology," noted Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA. 

The creativity of young musicians was showcased by Andrei Skobelsky, a graduate of the piano faculty of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory and laureate of international and Russian competitions (Moscow); Anastasia Druzhinina, head of the music department at the State Buryat Academic Drama Theatre named after H. Namsaraev, laureate of Russian and regional competitions, and member of the Union of Theatre Workers (Ulan-Ude); Georgy Fedorov, winner of the All-Russian Competition of Symphonic Music Composers by the Krasnoyarsk Regional Philharmonic "Symphony of Siberia" and co-founder of the "Orchestra 1703" project (Saint Petersburg); and Dinis Kurbanov, member of the Union of Composers of Russia, senior lecturer at the composition department of the Ural Conservatory, and laureate of international and Russian competitions (Yekaterinburg).

As part of the main program, Eduard Artemyev's greatest hits were performed, including music from the films "A Slave of Love," "Solaris," "Family Relations," "TASS Is Authorized to Declare," and other cinematic works. These recognized masterpieces were brought to life by Moscow-based ensembles OpensoundOrchestra and Sound puzzle chorus. The soloists included virtuoso trumpeter Nikita Shutov and Andrei Lefler, a leading tenor-altino of the Gradsky Hall Theatre, renowned for his brilliant performance of the legendary "Song of the Ship" from the film "At Home Among Strangers, A Stranger Among His Own." 

"Eduard Artemyev became a people's composer; everyone knows and sings his melodies. But for us, as professional musicians, it is crucial to emphasize that he was an innovator. He worked in an electronic studio, played in a rock band, and searched for new sound pathways. That is why it is particularly wonderful that this concert features music by contemporary Russian composers, and I hope this becomes a cherished tradition," stated Stanislav Malyshev, artistic director and conductor of OpensoundOrchestra.

The composer’s granddaughter, singer Yekaterina Artemyeva, also participated in the concert. She performed "Where Are You, Dream?" from the film "A Slave of Love" and other works by her famous relative. Yekaterina also debuted the song "They Say Dolphins Speak" from the animated film "The Girl and the Dolphin," marking its first stage performance. Another standout premiere was the song "Friendship and Shadow" from the film "Complaint," arranged for a symphony orchestra and performed by Andrei Lefler. 

"The creative legacy of Eduard Artemyev is immense — it includes music for over 250 films as well as standalone works. The monumental pieces he created for cinema are continually published, released, and performed in concerts. I hope that the memory of Eduard Nikolaevich will live in our hearts—just as his creations do," said Artemy Artemyev, a distinguished guest of the program, composer, publisher, and producer, and son of Eduard Nikolaevich.

The grand multimedia concert "Artemyev. Connection of Times" at the National Centre RUSSIA vividly demonstrated that Eduard Artemyev’s work is "timelessly modern." He is not only a classic of film music but also an innovator whose compositions will undoubtedly continue to set a standard for generations of composers to come. 

The National Centre RUSSIA was established by order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and to showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens on a permanent basis. Federal government agencies, state companies, corporations, and regions take part in the Centre’s work.

The National Centre RUSSIA is located at 14 Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment, Moscow. The Centre is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day except Monday.