Vologda Philharmonic Society

The Vologda Philharmonic Society was founded in 1944. It is the most favourite place of all music-lovers in Vologda. It is situated in the building erected in 1758. For a long time the building was occupied by the Assembly of Noblemen. Splendid balls were organized there, when Alexander I and then Alexander II visited Vologda. After the revolution of 1917 the building was used as a reading room of the Vologda Oblast Library. Only after the restoration in 1963 the building was given to the Vologda Philharmonic Society.

In 1999 the Philharmonic Society was named after Valery Gavrilin, the distinguished Russian composer (1939-1999). Since that time annual festivals dedicated to V.Gavrilin are held in Vologda, the home city of the great composer. V.Gavrilin succeded in combining folk and classical musical traditions. His most famous works are "Russian Song Book", "German Song Book. Part I" and "German Song Book. Part II", "Seasons", "Ringing of Bells" and his music for the ballet "Anyuta".

The Vologda Philharmonic Society is notable for the rich repertoire of both individual musicians and the whole musical group. Its artists give performances in the USA, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Hungary and Poland. The Vologda Philharmonic Society organises major festival projects with the participation of leading professional groups and musicians: the International Music Festival named after Valery Gavrilin, the Theatre and Concert project "Summer in the Kremlin", the Open Orthodox Festival of Spiritual Culture in memory of Ignaty Bryanchaninov, the Music Festival "Lace" and the festival "Musical Expedition".
In 2014, the Vologda Philharmonic Society joined the National Digital Concert Hall, a landmark project of the Year of Culture. Thanks to the special equipment installed at the Vologda Philharmonic Society, its audience is able to virtually attend philharmonic performances and meet music starts from different parts of Russia and the rest of the world.