Experimental Russian composers showcase their lockdown pieces online

Contemporary classical Russian musicians will showcase experimental lockdown compositions online in the opening ceremony of an international art festival on 16 October.

The event is part of “Russian Music 2.0”, a programme supporting contemporary music by the Aksenov Family Foundation. During lockdown, eight Russian composers were awarded grants to create music for the opening night of the contemporary arts festival Territory. The performances will also be streamed online to the public on YouTube on 16 October at 5pm BST. Among the composers are Boris Filanovsky, Alexey Sysoev, and Daria Zvezdina.

“Today, we have dozens of talented composers in Russia, who belong to different generations, and vary in terms of stylistic preferences and aesthetic visions. However, what we lack in this country is a practice of commissioning new work,” said Dmitry Aksenov, founder of the Aksenov Family Foundation.

Territory, now in its 15th year, was founded in 2006 by prominent Russian artists — including film and theatre director Kiril Serebrennikov, the founder of independent arts venue Gogol Centre — to bring together creatives on a multidisciplinary platform. The festival’s programme also includes screenings, lectures, and masterclasses to encourage young Russian creatives to experiment with new art forms.

Watch the live stream on YouTube here.