On June 2, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory hosted a concert by People's Artists of Russia Igor Butman and Larisa Dolina. The autumn concert by the renowned saxophonist and celebrated singer, which marked the artists’ first joint performance at this historic venue, was a great success, and the spring program was equally vibrant and engaging. Solo compositions and emotional duets by the two acclaimed artists showcased the many shades of jazz and delighted the audience with their infectious energy, optimism, and love of life. The evening was accompanied by the Moscow Jazz Orchestra.
Igor Butman is a renowned saxophonist, People's Artist of Russia, and recipient of the State Prize of the Russian Federation. He is one of the leading ambassadors of Russian jazz on the international stage. He is the artistic director of several Moscow jazz clubs and a producer of 12 international festivals. In 1999, the musician founded his world-renowned Moscow Jazz Orchestra, Quintet, and Quartet, which were described by DownBeat magazine as a “constellation of virtuosos.” Over the course of two decades, he has toured dozens of countries with his ensembles and performed at the world’s largest jazz festivals. In 2016, Igor Butman was elected President of the Authors’ Council of the Russian Authors’ Society. Since 2019, he has headed Russia’s first Jazz Academy.
Larisa Dolina is widely regarded as one of Russia’s finest jazz singers and the country’s undisputed “Queen of Jazz.” She is a People’s Artist of Russia and a recipient of the Order of Friendship and the Order of Honour. A three-time winner of the national Russian music award Ovation, the consistently stylish singer captivates audiences with the exceptional quality of her vocals and her passionate, expressive performances. In her concerts, she boldly combines jazz, popular music, and classical music. Larisa Dolina is also known for her work in film and theatre, as well as her participation in major television projects.
The concert was accompanied by the Moscow Jazz Orchestra. Over the years, the ensemble has established itself as one of the world’s leading jazz orchestras and a major driving force behind the development of jazz in Russia. For more than 20 years, its musicians have regularly represented the country at prestigious festivals across Europe, Asia, and America. In October 2017, the orchestra headlined the World Festival of Youth and Students. In 2018, the big band became the first orchestra in the world to perform at the All-Star Global Concert, the main event of International Jazz Day. In the preceding five years alone, the orchestra gave more than 500 concerts in Russia and also performed repeatedly in South Korea, India, China, Italy, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Germany, and the United States.
