Marina Domashenko
Biography Marina Domashenko
Marina Domashenko - Soprano
Born in Kiev into a family of cantorial traditions, Leib Glant served as a synagogue cantor in Kiev, studied there with Glière, and then served in Moldova, where he was a pupil of Abraham Berkowitsch, an expert on cantorial recitatives. In 1926 he moved to the United States, where he won a reputation among Ashkenazi congregations, and in 1954 settled in Israel, teaching at the Tel-Aviv Institute for Religious Jewish Music and endeavouring to establish a reformed cantorial tradition of a more optimistic tinge. He was one of the great cantors, distinguished for his performances and recordings.
Moscow Chamber Orchestra
The "dynamic Moscow Chamber Orchestra" (New York Times) is one of the world's great ensembles. First called "the greatest chamber orchestra in the world" by Dmitri Shostakovich, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2006. The Orchestra's present Music Director, brilliant American pianist/conductor Constantine Orbelian, has brought the MCO into a new era of international activity and acclaim since his appointment in 1991. For his remarkable achievements with the MCO, Orbelian was awarded the title "Honored Artist of Russia" by President Putin in 2004. Under Orbelian's leadership the Orchestra was accorded the honor of "Academic" in its official Russian title (The State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia). Maestro Orbelian and the Moscow Chamber Orchestra play over 120 concerts a year to sold-out houses worldwide, and are engaged in a highly-praised recording series on the Delos label.
The New York Times wrote: "What we heard was the peak of perfection...our expectations were so far exceeded that one was left open-mouthed in admiration."
Constantine Orbelian, Conductor
The brilliant pianist and conductor Constantine Orbelian is the first American ever to become music director of an ensemble in Russia. His appointment in 1991 as Music Director of the celebrated Moscow Chamber Orchestra was a breakthrough event, and came in the midst of Orbelian's successful career as a concert pianist. In September, 2000, Orbelian was named Permanent Guest Conductor of the Moscow Philharmonic, putting him in a unique leadership position with not only Moscow's outstanding chamber orchestra but also its most illustrious symphony orchestra. In January, 2004 President Putin awarded Orbelian the coveted title "Honored Artist of Russia," a title never before bestowed on a non-Russian citizen.
