BANEVICH Sergei

 
     Sergei Banevich (born 1941), Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Laureate of the St. Petersburg Government Prize in Literature, Art and Architecture, holder of The State Friendship Medal (2002), initiator and Artistic Director of the annual International Children’s Music Festival in St. Petersburg. A representative of the St. Petersburg composers’ school, continues Russian musical romanticism traditions. Since almost 40 years his works have been connected with the musical theatre.
     Lyricism, refinement of the musical language, generosity of the melodic gift are chief distinction of Banevich’s works. «This is music composed by a true master with a light motion of his hand», said Isaac Shcwarz, one of the most popular Russia’s composers.
     Music works staged both in Russia’s theatres and abroad. Compositions performed in various countries including Germany, China, Belgium, USA, Italy, Finland.
     Sergei Banevich’s music is integral to St. Petersburg’s and Russia’s musical culture.
     Teachers — composers Galina Ustvolskaya and Orest Yevlakhov, both pupils of Dmitry Schostakovich.
     The only one contemporary Russian composer in the today’s repertoire of The Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre — opera for children The Story of Kay and Gerda (after The Snow Queen by Andersen). 
     Vladimir Putin in his congratulatory telegram on the occasion of the Composer’s 60th anniversary wrote: «Your works are truly talented and out of the beaten path… Your life has been considerably devoted to children, and you discovered a wonderful world of musical art for them».
     Mikhail Shvydkoi, Russia’s Minister for Culture (2002): «When comparing Bizet and Wagner, Friedrich Nitzsche dropped: “The godlike steps lightly…” Today in the harsh chorale of modern music destructive dissonances your works composed by a light motion of your hand sound as an anthem for harmony and beauty».

Published Compositions:

Petersburgian Pages. Pieces for piano
To the Tales by Hans Christian Andersen. Album for piano and rwo pianos 
Album of Piano Pieces and Ensembles for Children. Middle and senior forms of children music school 
Waltz “Petersburg”. From the ballet of the same name & Snow-White And Scarlet Flower. See it in: Brother and Sister. Ensembles for piano in 4 hands. Educational repertoire of Children Music School. Volume 1