In the beginning of 2019, the European Foundation for Support of Culture, with media support of the “Valletta 2018” Foundation and the Malta Tourism Authority, launched a project entitled “Malta – the new centre of tourism and classical music attraction”, which was held in the format of a presentation concert at European conservatories and to which all interested students were invited.
As part of the project in Moscow, a presentation concert was held on 20 March at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Russia. The students had a unique opportunity to get to know Malta, learn about the activities of the European Foundation for Support of Culture and its educational projects, as well as international piano, violin and wind competitions for young talents.
The Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, one of the leading music universities in Russia and the world, was founded in 1866. Establishment of the Conservatory was initiated by Nikolai Rubinstein, with Prince Nikolai Petrovich Trubetskoy acting as co-founder.
Among the outstanding graduates of the Conservatory are Yuri Bashmet, artistic director, conductor and soloist of the Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra, artistic director and chief conductor of the New Russia State Symphony Orchestra; Vladimir Spivakov, People’s Performer of the USSR, winner of the State Prizes of the USSR and the Russian Federation, artistic director and chief conductor of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia and the Moscow Virtuosi State Chamber Orchestra, president of the Moscow International House of Music; Russian virtuoso pianist Denis Matsuev, People’s Performer of the Russian Federation, winner of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, artistic director of the Crescendo festival; pianist Nikolai Lugansky, soloist of the Moscow Philharmonic, Merited Performer of Russia, People’s Performer of Russia, professor at the Moscow State Conservatory; pianist Svyatoslav Richter, People’s Performer of the USSR, laureate of the Lenin, Stalin and State prizes of the RSFSR and the Russian Federation; Merited Performer of the Russian Federation, violinist Dmitry Kogan; composers Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Skryabin, Dmitry Shostakovich, and many others.
On 18 March 1958, the First International Tchaikovsky Competition was launched at the Conservatory.
The presentation concluded with a performance by violinist Karen Shakhgaldyan, laureate of Pablo Sarasate International Violin Competition, and young pianist Ruben Kozin, laureate of the Eurasian Music Games, who together played popular works by Maltese composers.