2013 is the year of the 100th birth anniversary of Benjamin Britten, an English composer, conductor and pianist. A special concert is devoted to Britten’s centenary in the program of the 2nd Eurasia International Music Festival. The Opening Night is scheduled for October 11, when the Spring Symphony, Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, will be performed for the first time either in Ekaterinburg or elsewhere in Russia.

The concert will feature the Ural Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Dmitry Liss, the Symphony Choir of the Sverdlovsk Philharmonic, the Boys’ and Young Men’s Choir of the Sverdlovsk Children’s Philharmonic, soloists from the United Kingdom, such as Mark Wilde (tenor), Katherine Broderick (soprano), Madeleine Shaw (mezzo-soprano), and a Dutch hornist Hans van der Zanden.

Ms. Lyudmila Kovnatskaya, Doctor of Arts, a music expert considered the foremost Russian authority on the oeuvre of Britten will present a report about the composer at the scientific conference entitled Orient & Occident: Challenge and Response, which is to be held on October 12 – 13 at the Festival. L. Kovnatskaya is the author of an article devoted to Britten, written specifically for the booklet of the 2nd Eurasia International Music Festival.

“The name of the composer whose music is integrally connected with the world culture is symbolically consonant with the name of his country: Britten – Britain. His music takes its roots in the national soil. His date of birth is also symbolic: November 22 – St. Cecilia’s Day. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music and musicians, which suggests a sign of destiny…”

Lyudmila Kovnatskaya (St. Petersburg), 2013