RUSSIAN BRASS Pipers, September 2004 issue No.277 - NewsFlash - Compressed Russian “Brass Magic” — Russian Brass + Five Elite Musicians from the St. Petersburg Phil to visit Japan in September The most popular brass quintet in Russia, introduced in our issue No. 271, Russian Brass will visit Japan in September for a concert tour of six cities throughout the nation. All of them are members of the St. Petersburg Phil, and they also go by the name of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Brass Quintet. The group was founded in 1996. That orchestra has given birth to any number of renowned musicians, inheriting the traditions of the old Leningrad Phil. Their performance that is typified by great power and rich lyricism never fails to fascinate their Russian audiences. Its members are Igor Sharapov (first trumpeter of the orchestra) and Alexey Belyaev on trumpet, Igor Karzov on French horn, Maxim Ignatiev on trombone (first trombonist of the orchestra), and Valentin Avvakumov on tuba (first tuba player of the orchestra). All pieces are arranged especially for them, including Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Ruslan and Ludmilla. The world of overflowing color that they create in their rendition of A. Oskorkov's arrangement of Pictures at an Exhibition is truly something to behold. They also perform pieces from the Nutcracker, Night on Bald Mountain, and the Polvetsian Dances from Prince Igor. In perfect timing, their debut CD was released by Octavio Records in August. It includes the first three Brass Quintets of V. Ewald. (OVCC-00001/¥3000). The are schedule to perform on September 23 (Thu, national holiday) at the Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara; on September 26 (Sun) at Gifu Salamanca Hall; on September 27 (Mon) at Yonego Public Hall; on September 30 (Thu) at Kioi Hall; on October 2 at Tsukuba Nova Hall; and on October 3 (Sun) at Nagaoka Lyric Hall. For furtherinformation call the Japan Arts ticket center at 03-3499-9990.