Russian Wind Quintet: February 2004

... The tour continues and concludes at The Bermuda Festival.

Days 8 and 9: Guilford, Connecticut and
Hamilton, Bermuda

The Russian Wind Quintet readies to depart Guilford for JFK airport, where they will catch their flight to Bermuda.
In Bermuda at last! Andrey Snegirev and Andrey Shuty from the balcony of Harmony Club, which accommodates participants of the Bermuda Festival.
After a full day of rehearsals, the quintet relaxes at the beach – windy weather, pink sand, blue water and sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.
Andrey Rubtsov at the harbor in Hamilton.

Day 10: Hamilton, Bermuda

The Russian Wind Quintet made its first appearance at the Bermuda Festival with a program said to have "plenty of family appeal." The sold-out performance featured the premiere of Andrey Rubtsov's Three Moods with choreography by Conchita Ming, Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf, with narration by Diana Douglas, and Jean-Pascal Beintus' GRAMMY-awarded Wolf Tracks, with narration by Sean Dill.

The Royal Gazette said that Bermuda-born stage and screen actress Diana Douglas had a "warm and embracing style," while Sean Dill, also well-known in Bermuda, gave a "dynamic and absolutely riveting performance ... "

Of the other program favorite, Johann Strauss' Tales from the Vienna Woods, the Gazette said, "The quintet imposed its own puckish dynamics and enhanced the rhythm quite liberally, to the delight of the audience."

Backstage at intermission the performers pose for a group photo. Left to right: Sean Dill, Diana Douglas, the RNOWQ and choreographer Conchita Ming. Kneeling in front: dancers Sophia Cannonier (left) and Angelia Hubbard.

Day 11: Hamilton, Bermuda

The final day of the tour began with a special morning concert of Peter and the Wolf and Wolf Tracks at the City Hall Theater. Children wait for the doors to open. Several classes had studied the stories and one was preparing to perform a ballet version of Peter and the Wolf.
In the evening, the Wind Quintet played their final concert of the tour. After the concert, the entire cast is congratulated backstage by H. E. the Governor of Bermuda Sir John Vereker, KCB and Lady Vereker (center). Himself a musician and the son of a music teacher, Governor Vereker praised the Russian ensemble for their complex and brilliantly performed classical program, right straight through to the fast-paced encore selections from Bizet's popular Carmen Suite. Proud that the Bermudian choreographer and dancers had created their interpretation of Rubtsov's composition, Frivolity, the Governor said, "Cultural collaborations such as this make the Bermuda Festival unique. We present the best talent of other countries along with our own bright stars."

The next day, the Russian Wind Quintet wrapped up its successfull debut tour of North America and headed back to snowy Moscow.