National Philharmonic of Russia (NPR) was founded in January 2003 by the Ministry of Culture as commissioned by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The main aim of the NPR’s formation was restoration and further development of the best domestic and world traditions of orchestral performing. The Orchestra was headed by Vladimir Spivakov, a world-known violinist and conductor. During the first two years of its activities, the NPR has succeeded in becoming one of the musical symbols of new Russia and in gaining admiration from the audience and recognition from the professionals.
The NPR is a kind of a national team that has united the best musicians of Russia, the musical elite of Moscow and St-Petersburg.
Along with Vladimir Spivakov, the National Philharmonic of Russia prepares new programmes and performs in Moscow and abroad with conductors James Conlon, Thomas Sanderling, Theodore Currentzis and Vladimir Simkin. Moreover, the Orchestra is planning to invite both most acclaimed Maestros (Sir Simon Rattle, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Michael Thomas Tilson) and conductors who are world famous for their interesting accomplishments (Antonio Pappano, Ingo Metzmacher, Christian Thielemann, John Nelson, George Cleve, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Sakari Oramo, Ion Marin, Daniel Harding).
One of its principal objectives the Orchestra sees in supporting young gifted musicians and in providing appropriate conditions for their professional and artistic growth. To this effect the Orchestra invites young musicians and maintains close contacts with the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation which is to become one of the main sources of new artistic forces for the Orchestra. During the 2004/2005 season the Orchestra formed a group of apprentices-conductors. The brightest of them will be given the opportunity to make a debut in the NPR’s concerts. Further the Orchestra is planning to work in a similar way with young instrumentalists, to be prepared for the generation change.
During two years of its existence the NPR has performed with Krzysztof Penderecki, James Conlon, George Cleve, Okko Kamu, Ion Marin, John Lill, Natalia Gutman, Gidon Kremer, Jessye Norman, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Kiri Te Kanawa, Dmitry Hvorostovski, Sergey Leiferkus, Maria Gulegina, Juan Diego Florez, and other fascinating artists.
The NPR has performed in Europe and Japan, had two large-scale tours over Russian towns, also those that had never hosted a symphony orchestra before, recorded some works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, taken part in the Moscow and Tokyo premieres of H.Shore’s “Lord of the Rings” Symphony, and presented A.Rybnikov’s Fifth Symphony to the Moscow audience.
In May 2005 the Capriccio Recording Company released CD and DVD of Isaak Schwartz’s Concert for Orchestra, titled “Yellow Stars”, recorded by the NPR under Vladimir Spivakov to whom the composer dedicated the work.
In 2004 the privileged partner of the NPR, the “Baltika” Company, presented to the orchestra a full set of advanced wood and brass instruments that play an essential role in forming a high-quality sound that meets the world standards.
Mariinsky Theatre: 
Mariinsky-2 (New Theatre): 
Mariinsky Concert Hall: 
