"Startlingly good" The Observer

Tchaikovsky is a natural choice for the debut recording of the Russian Virtuosi of Europe, an impressive collection of soloists, chamber musicians, conservatoire teachers and orchestral principals – all ambassadors for the great Russian string tradition. Their richly confident playing is startlingly good: taut, precise and immaculately phrased. Yuri Zhislin coaxes tangible excitement in the exhilarating finale of the Serenade for Strings and couples tremendous colour and vitality with meticulous attention to detail in the sextet Souvenir de Florence, heard here in an attractive arrangement for string orchestra. Recommended
Stephen Pritchard The Observer 17 Jan 2016 More

"Stunning Russian strings" Classic FM

In these London made recordings, because most of the musicians are based here, the violinist Yuri Zhislin directs the ensemble from the leader’s desk, just as Neville Marriner used to do in those early days. And the instrumental forces – five first violins, five second violins, four violas, four cellos and one double bass, – plus the exceptional skills of the players, also recalls the past glories of the Academy in music of course that they themselves played: two of Tchaikovsky’s finest string pieces, the Serenade for Strings, and the orchestral version of the sextet Souvenir de Florence.
David Mellor Classic FM 31 Jan 2016 More

New CD available

The Virtuosi released their debut album on Orchid Classics on 26 February 2016, featuring Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings and Souvenir de Florence.

Founder Yuri Zhislin commented: “I could not think of a better composer than Tchaikovsky and two of his most beloved works are included in our debut CD. What you hear on this album is the result of a collaboration between great friends united by their love of music making, and two works written with great passion by the composer.”

Producer: John Fraser, Engineer: Philp Siney, Editor: Ian Watson
Recorded at All Saints’ Church, East Finchley, London. Label: Orchid Classics

Biography

The Russian Virtuosi of Europe brings together wonderful musicians who are passionate about carrying on the great tradition of the famous Russian School with the wonderful Western tradition of chamber music making.

Formed by London based Russian violinist Yuri Zhislin in 2004, the ensemble comprises of musicians who have enviable lists of international awards and prizes in Paganini, Michael Hill, Brahms, Lipitzer, Queen Elisabeth International Violin competitions.

The RVoE artists also enjoy busy and successful careers as concert artists, teachers, chamber musicians, leaders and principals of outstanding chamber and symphony orchestras, such as the London Philharmonic, the Philharmonia and the Russian National Orchestra. The Russian Virtuosi gave their highly successful debut at the Wigmore Hall in June 2004 and have since enjoyed a series of concerts in Europe, several South American and Russian tours. They regularly appear at major venues across Europe, including the Kings Place, St John's Smith Square and Cadogan Hall in London, as well as Salle Gaveau in Paris. Over the years the orchestra collaborated with pianists MeiYi Foo, Ashley Wass and Vestard Shimkus; violinists Natalia Lomeiko, Alexander Sitkovetsky, Anna-Liisa Bezrodny, Daniel Garlitsky, Eva Bindere and Yuri Zhislin as well as members of the Belcea, New Russian and David Oistrakh String quartets.

The orchestra is committed to collaborating with younger players, which proves to be beneficial for the ensemble and plays an important role in the musical development of the young artists.

The unique combination of the Russian School of instrumental playing and brilliant ensemble skills makes this group one of the most exciting and innovative ensembles on today's musical scene.

The Orchestra’s future plans include performances at the South Bank Centre and Kings Place in London, the Carngie Hall in New York and another South American Tour in 2014/15.
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