Orchestra

The Symphony Orchestra is the most numerous team at the Astrakhan Opera and Ballet Theatre.

The orchestra mainly consists of graduates and students of the Astrakhan State Conservatory.

In addition to the main work in the theatre performances, the orchestra gives concerts not only on the theatre stage but also in the Conservatory Concert Hall, the State Philharmonic society Hall and other major venues.

The Symphony Orchestra of the theatre is a constant participant of the International Festival of vocal music named afetr V.Barsova and M.Maksakova and the festival "Voices of Orthodox Astrakhan."

In 2003 the XX International Vocal Competition named after Glinka took place in Astrakhan. The Symphony Orchestra of the Astrakhan State Music Theatre under the direction of the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia conductor Paul Klinichev took part in it.

A project "River of talents", developed by the St. Petersburg House of Music, can not do without the orchestra. This is a series of tour concerts in the cities of the Volga region, with the support of professional symphony orchestras and young performers from different regions of Russia, who are preparing for performances at major international competitions. Another major project by conductor Vasily Valitov - " Children's Hearts Music", in which talented children from all over Russia take part, is also supported by the theatre Symphony Orchestra.

There are works by Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Richard Strauss, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Shostakovich, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and many others in the orchestra repertoire.

Igor Smetanin, Valentin Bogdanov, Vasiliy Valitov were chief conductors of the orchestra at various times.

Currently, Valery Voronin is the chief conductor of the Symphony Orchestra.