The National Symphony Orchestra of Belarus is one of the oldest institutions in the former Soviet Union. It was founded in April, 1927. The first performance given by the Orchestra was conducted by the great Russian composer R. Gluier, and the soloist was the famous Austrian pianist R. Gottlieb. In 1937 young, talented and very famous now around the world I. Mussin took charge of the Orchestra.

 

 

The Orchestra has always ranked among the former Soviet orchestras, owning to the fact that a number of very distinguished maestros took great pleasure in coming to Minsk in order to conduct, among them K. Sanderling, K. Kondrashin, I. Temirkanov, D. Kitaenko, K. Tsekki, M. Ferrero, E. Mravinsky, G. Rozhdestvensky, C. Svetlanov, X. Yvaki, V. Gergiev, and the composer A. Khachaturian. Furthermore, some of the leading soloists of the 20th century have performed with the Orchestra, such as D. Oistrakh, S. Richter, M. Rostropovich, G. Vishnevskaya, E. Guilels, L. Kogan, N. Gutman, M. Maisky, G. Kremer, Y. Menuhin, V. Ashkenazy, I. Stern, V. Cliburn amongst many others.

 

 

 

Thanks to its outstanding qualities, the Orchestra has been invited to Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Greece, Netherlands, Lebanon, France, Switzerland and many other countries with great concert tours. During three years the Orchestra was a member of the famous Opera Festival in Wexford(Ireland). The repertoire of the orchestra’s performances included both opera and symphonic concerts.

 

 

A native of Minsk and a laureate of the international conductors’ competition, Igor Bukhvalov, is currently pursuing his conducting career in New York City. Over the years, he has been vigorously involved with the American Opera Theatre, where he quickly gained recognition as an excellent and keenly trained musician.

 

 

Helikon-opera soloist Ilya Govsich graduated from Belorussian State Academy of Music in “solo singing” and “choir conducting”. Participated in international contests, won the grant of Ministry of Foreigh Affairs of Italy, was on probation in Conservatorium named after G. Verdi in Milan, he participated in workshops of famous masters, was a participant of a youth programme of a Bolshoi theatre of Russia.

 

 

Elena Shvedova graduated from the Belarusian State Conservatoire (now Academy of Music) in 1987 where she had studied under the People's Artist of the USSR Tamara Nizhnikova.From 1987 to 1990 she was engaged as soloist at the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society.She joined the opera company of the Bolshoi Theatre of Belarus in 1991.

 

In 2009, Elena Shvedova was decorated with the Francysk Skaryna Medal for outstanding achievements, professionalism and contribution to the development of national culture and art.