University of Florida Performing Arts

Vladimir Spivakov, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor
Mayuko Kamio, Violin

Sponsored by Holloway Financial Services

Program*
Introduction to Capriccio – R. Strauss
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 – Tchaikovsky (Mayuko Kamio, Violin)
Symphony No. 9 in E-flat Major, Op. 70 – Shostakovich
Three pieces from Romeo and Juliet Suite - Prokofiev

*Note: Please note that there has been a program change. The Sibelius Violin Concerto has been replaced by the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

About the National Philharmonic of Russia
Composed of Russia’s leading symphonic virtuosos and led by the electrifying conductor and violinist Vladimir Spivakov, the National Philharmonic of Russia is one of the musical symbols of new Russia. As its name suggests, the National Philharmonic of Russia (NPR) is not only a major musical institution, but also a cultural ambassador for post-reconstruction Russia. Created with generous support from Russia’s Cultural Ministry, the NPR was founded in January 2003 as commissioned by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The orchestra symbolizes the deep commitment the country maintains to its rich cultural traditions, as well as the bold steps it is taking towards an innovative and dynamic future.

The National Philharmonic of Russia resides at the new spectacular $200 million Moscow International Performing Arts Center, of which Vladimir Spivakov is the President.  One of the largest performing arts centers in Europe, this is the first “Palace of Music” built in Russia in more than 100 years.

The NPR has performed in Europe and Japan, toured throughout Russia, recorded works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff, premiered H.Shore’s Lord of the Rings Symphony in Moscow and Tokyo, and presented A.Rybnikov’s Fifth Symphony in Moscow. The National Philharmonic of Russia completed a successful U.S. tour debut with 36 performances between February and April 2007.

Vladimir Spivakov
Vladimir Spivakov is a remarkable musician with a multifaceted career.  He is a prominent violinist who has appeared both as a recitalist and orchestral soloist in major music capitals throughout the world; a respected guest conductor with such renowned orchestras as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra; and the founder, conductor and violin soloist of the Moscow Virtuosi, which under his leadership, has developed into one of the world’s leading chamber ensembles.  Mr. Spivakov has also held the position of Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Russian National Orchestra, which brought highly successful tours of the orchestra throughout Europe, Asia and North America. 

A student of Yuri Yankelevich at the Moscow Conservatory, Mr. Spivakov quickly established himself as one of Russia’s preeminent violinists and made his United States debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1975.  Soon afterwards, he appeared as guest soloist with the orchestras of Cleveland, Dallas, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.  Mr. Spivakov launched his conducting career in a triumphant 1979 performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival.  The success of his Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut encouraged him to establish the Moscow Virtuosi, a handpicked ensemble of top-ranking soloists drawn primarily from the principal chairs of the major Soviet orchestras.  The ensemble appears regularly throughout Russia, Europe, and South America, and in 1987, performed the first of nine North American tours to date. 

Vladimir Spivakov has appeared as a guest conductor with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Columbus Symphony, State Symphony of Russia, Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome, London Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and the English and Scottish Chamber Orchestras, as well as the chamber orchestras of Dresden, Rome, and the Netherlands.  At the same time, he continues to pursue his solo career and in recent seasons has performed with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Houston Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall, London Symphony, and L’ Orchestre National de France. 

Mr. Spivakov has been decorated with Russia’s highest prize, the National Cultural Heritage Award, and is Ambassador of the Arts at the World Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  He was recently appointed President and Artistic Director of the Moscow International Performing Arts Center.  This $200 million dollar center, financed by the city of Moscow, houses the first classical music concert hall built in more than a century.

Mayuko Kamio
In June 2007, Japanese violinist Mayuko Kamio won the Gold Medal in the 13th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.  The award included a $40,000 cash prize and resulted in an invitation by Vladimir Spivakov to perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Russian National Orchestra.  During the 2007-08 season, she appeared as soloist with the Bavarian State Orchestra in Munich under Zubin Mehta, the Orchestre National d’Île de France under Jean Deroyer, the NHK Symphony under James Judd, the Tokyo Symphony under Naoto Otomo, and the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra under Okko Kamu.  On March 3, 2008 she was presented in recital by the Young Concert Artists Series at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall.

In 2004, Ms. Kamio won the first Monte Carlo Violin Masters Competition, a prize of €30,000.  As part of this award, she made a concerto appearance at the Salle Gaveau in Paris with the Orchestra of the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris conducted by Jean-Michel Durand, as well as in Monte Carlo with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monaco, conducted by Eliahu Inbal.  That same year, she was awarded First Prize and the Gold Medal at the first International David Oistrakh Violin Competition in the Ukraine. 

Ms. Kamio made her concerto debut in Tokyo at the age of 10 under the baton of Charles Dutoit, in a concert broadcast on NHK television.  Since then, she has appeared as soloist with the Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart; the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich with Mstislav Rostropovich; the Israel Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta; and on tour with the Russian National Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Spivakov.  Ms. Kamio has also appeared with the Prague Philharmonic, the BBC Philharmonic, the Oviedo Symphony Orchestra in Spain, and appeared in Japan as soloist with the Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto, NHK, Osaka, Sapporo and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestras, and the Japan, Tokyo and Tokyo City Philharmonics.  As a winner of the 1998 Menuhin International Violin Competition, the youngest artist ever to win the award, Ms. Kamio performed with the Orchestra National de Lille with Lord Menuhin conducting.  Lincoln Center’s Great Performers Series presented Ms. Kamio in recital in January 2005.

At the age of 13, Ms. Kamio won First Prize in the 2000 Young Concert Artists (YCA) International Auditions.  In 2001, she was the youngest artist ever to be presented in the Young Concert Artists Series at the Kennedy Center.  In May 2003, she made her New York concerto debut with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Alice Tully Hall, and later that year made her New York recital debut at the 92nd Street Y.  These performances prompted The New York Times to call Ms. Kamio an “exciting young musician” and “a radiant talent.”   Through YCA, Ms. Kamio has performed as soloist with orchestras across the United States including the Westchester Philharmonic, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle (North Carolina), the Fairfax (Virginia) and Syracuse Symphonies, and the Pasadena and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestras.  She currently holds YCA’s John French Violin Chair.

Ms. Kamio was born in Osaka, Japan in 1986, and began to play the violin at the age of four.  Her early teachers were Chikako Satoya, Machie Oguri and Chihiro Kudo, and she worked with Koichiro Harada at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.  Ms. Kamio studied in the United States with Dorothy Delay and Masao Kawasaki at the Aspen Music Festival and the pre-college division of The Juilliard School.  She currently attends the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Zurich, where she works with Zakhar Bron.  Ms. Kamio received a grant from the Bagby Foundation for the Musical Arts, and is a recipient of the prestigious Idemitsu Music Award.  Her instrument is a 1727 Stradivarius, previously owned by violinist Joseph Joachim, on loan from Suntory Limited, Japan.