“…The ensemble reaches remarkable results. Especially admirable is subtlest, as if engraved, elaboration of details. What Ilya Ioff and the “Divertissement” do is just breathtaking.” – Hans Winking, WDR, Köln
The St.Petersburg Chamber Orchestra “Divertissement” was established in 1990 at the initiative of St.Petersburg Conservatory Professor Yelena Komarova with the support of her students. A shared musical education and loyalty to St.Petersburg’s chamber music traditions enabled the orchestra to create a well-recognized name from the very beginning of its existence, first in its hometown and very soon outside its borders.
Since 1998 the orchestra is led by the Honored Artist of Russia violinist Ilya Ioff. A “quartet-like” flexibility quickly enabled a noticeable expansion of the repertoire and the ensemble has since developed a vast repertoire ranging from works of the Baroque era to Romantic and Modern masterpieces.
Performing the masterpieces of Russian composers is essential to the musicians of the orchestra. It’s impossible to imagine orchestra’s existence without compositions by P. Tchaikovsky, A. Arensky, I. Stravinsky, D. Shostakovich, S. Prokofiev and A. Schnittke. The “Divertissement” orchestra successfully collaborates with modern Russian composers such as Petrov, Slonimsky, Desyatnikov, Korchmar, and Tischenko. These composers not only entrust their music to the musicians of the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra, but also often compose music especially for the orchestra.
Not limiting themselves to Russian music, the ensemble has also become known for their virtuosity in performing Western European music of various epochs – from Vivaldi and J.S. Bach to today’s experimental music.
The St.Petersburg Chamber Orchestra “Divertissement” tours in Russia, the Baltic Countries, Europe, the United States, and Japan. The orchestra has recorded several CDs (featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Schoenberg, Schnittke, Petrov, and Shostakovich), and appeared on several radio and TV shows. The orchestra has collaborated with such eminent musicians as Julian Milkis, Giya Kancheli, Natalia Gutman and Grigory Sokolov.
Already in his school days, Ilya Ioff attracted the attention of the audience in his home town, St. Petersburg. His warm and rich sound, masterful handling of the instrument, and mature interpretations unusual for a child were noticed by both the public and professors of the St. Petersburg Conservatory.
Upon finishing his studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatory (1984-1990) he emerged as a mature musician and virtuoso violinist. During his postgraduate studies with Professor V. Ovcharek he also earned the reputation of a talented teacher.
As soloist and ensemble musician, Ilya has performed with such remarkable artists as M. Argerich, M. Yansons, Y. Temirkanov, S. Stadler, and A. Rudin. Among his awards are the Special Prize at the ARD Competition in Munich, Germany and the First Prize at the G. Viotti Competition in Vercelli, Italy. His unique personality and instrumental style not only endear Ilya Ioff’s interpretations to the audience, but also make him an attractive performer in the eyes of contemporary composers. Noted Russian composers B. Tischenko, S. Slonimsky, G. Korchmar, and L. Desyatnikov have often entrusted the premiers of their new compositions to Ilya Ioff.
Ilya Ioff has recorded several compact disks as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra leader. These include Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1; Sonatas by Mozart, Tartini and Brahms; Trios by Schubert and Tchaikovsky; Chamber music of Dvorak, Brahms, Arensky and Borodin, and Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso No. 1.
The very first season of Ilya’s work as Artistic Director of the St Petersburg Chamber Orchestra “Divertissement” proved his natural gift in this role. His careful nurturing of the ensemble’s traditions developed in previous years by Professor E. Komarova (former Artistic Director) helped establish an absolutely individual sound and the ensemble has won well-deserved success with Russian, European, and American audiences.
Aside from Ilya Ioff’s performing activities, he is on the faculty at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. In 2002, Ilya Ioff was awarded the high title of Honored Artist of Russia.
REPERTOIRE
Russian Music
Arensky – Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky – Serenade for String Orchestra
Tchaikovsky – Souvenir de Florence
Tchaikovsky – The Seasons (arr. by G.Korchmar)
Prokofiev – 4 Pieces. Op. 4 (arr. by G.Korchmar)
Prokofiev – Sarcasms (arr. by G.Korchmar)
Prokofiev – Toccata (arr. by G.Korchmar)
Mussorgsky – Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. by I. Ioff)
Mussorgsky – The Nursery. Song cycle. (arr. by I. Ioff)
Mussorgsky – Night on Bald Mountain. (arr. by I. Ioff)
Shostakovich – 24 Preludes (arr. by G.Korchmar)
Shostakovich – 12 Preludes and Fugues (arr. by G.Korchmar)
Shostakovich – Quartet #8 (arr. by R. Barshai)
Shostakovich – Sonata for Viola and String Orchestra ( arr. by I. Ioff)
Shostakovich -Symphony #14
Stravinsky – Apollon Musagete. Ballet music
Stravinsky – Concert in D “Basel”
Slonimsky – Concerto Primaverile for violin and string orchestra
Petrov – The Creation of the World, Ballet Suite (arr. by G.Korchmar)
Schnittke – Concerto Grosso #1 & #3
Schnittke – Sonata No. 1 for violin and string orchestra
Schnittke – Moz-Art a la Haydn for string orchestra
Schnittke – Monologue for Viola and string orchestra
Schnittke – Suite in the Old Style (arr. by G.Korchmar)
Karmanov Green DNK
Martynov The Well-Tempered Beauty for 2 violins and string orchestra
Khrushcheva Slowly and Wrong, for string orchestra
Desyatnikov The Russian Seasons, for violin, soprano and string orchestra
European music
J.S. Bach – Violin concerto
J.S. Bach – Concerto for 2 Violins
J.S. Bach – Concerto for 3 Violins
J.S. Bach – Brandenburg Concertos No. 3, 5 and 6
Vivaldi – The Four Seasons
Vivaldi – Violin concerto
Vivaldi – Concerto for 2 Violins
Vivaldi – Concerto for 3 Violins
Vivaldi – Concerto for 4 Violins
Pachelbel – The Canon and Gigue
Handel – Concerti Grossi
J-P. Rameau – Concertos for String Orchestra
W.A. Mozart – Divertimenti in D, in B b in F
W.A. Mozart – Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
W.A. Mozart – Adagio and Fugue
Haydn – Violin concerto
Haydn – Cello concerto
Haydn – The Seven Last Words of Our Savior On the Cross
Schubert – Arpeggione Sonata (arr. by I. Ioff)
Schubert – Death and the Maiden (arr. by G. Mahler)
Schubert – Rondo for Violin and string orchestra
Mendelssohn – String symphony #9
Mendelssohn – Concerto in D for violin and string orchestra
Mendelssohn – Concerto in D for violin, piano and string orchestra
Brahms – Fantasies op. 116 (arr. by G. Korchmar)
Grieg – Holberg Suite
Dvorak – Serenade
Suk – Serenade
Fuchs – Serenade
Wolf – Italian Serenade
Elgar – Serenade
Holst – St. Paul’s Suite
Janacek – Suite for strings
Saint-Saëns – The carnival of the animals
Wagner – Prelude and Isolde’s death from “Tristan and Isolde” (arr. by G. Korchmar)
Mahler – Adagio from the 10th symphony (arr. by J. Stadlmayr)
Bartok – Divertimento
Bartok – Romanian dances
Bartok – Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
Bloch – Concerto Grosso
Ysaye – Harmonies du soir
Ravel – Pavane
Britten – Simple symphony
Britten – Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge
Britten – The Illuminations for soprano and string orchestra
Berg – Sonata op.1 (arr. by G. Korchmar)
Schoenberg – Transfigured Night
Schoenberg – Suite in the Old Style
Piazzolla – The Four Seasons
Piazzolla – Tango ballet (arr. by L. Desyatnikov)
Piazzolla – Selected tango(s)
Keiko Fujiie – Seasons on poems by Li Po
Kreisler, Piazzolla, Anderson, Haydn, Sibelius – Showpieces for string orchestra
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