Electroshock Festival in Saint Petersburg

The dates for the Electroshock Festival are now finalized. The festival will kick off on July 19 at the Oktyabrsky Concert Hall with a performance by the legendary French group Art Zoyd. This performance combines visual and sound art, accompanied by a screening of Fritz Lang's film 'Metropolis'. The festival will conclude on July 31 with performances by two duos. Hans-Joachim Roedelius (Austria) and Tim Story (USA) will present their program 'Lutz', which has garnered approval from both critics and audiences. Another highlight will be a performance by Dieter Moebius (Germany) and Michael Rother (USA), who are preparing a new program exclusively for the Electroshock Festival. Notably, the renowned Cluster members – Roedelius and Moebius – will perform separately this time, presenting programs created in collaboration with other musicians. According to Artemy Artemiev, the Electroshock Festival is a 'large-scale event that transcends the boundaries of individual clubs'. The attention from government bodies, including the Ministry of Culture, and the personal involvement of Mikhail Shvydkoy, who will open the festival, confirm the composer's words. The festival will run for 12 days, centered around the House of Composers, hosting 10 out of 34 concerts. Additionally, the concerts will take place at the Small and Grand Halls of the Philharmonia. Audiences will have the unique opportunity to witness performances by over a hundred artists and musical groups, including well-known masters and pioneers of entire schools and genres such as Eduard Artemyev (Russia), Francis Dhomont (Canada), Iasos (USA), as well as talented performers whose names are lesser-known to the wider audience. A highlight of the festival will be the joint performance of the legendary German group Ash Ra Tempel and a large symphony orchestra on the Oktyabrsky Concert Hall stage. Musicians will present a new piece by Manuel Göttsching 'Symphony for Peter', known locally as 'Petersburg Symphony'. Klaus Schulze, a member of Tangerine Dream in the 70s, will be a special guest at the festival. The Electroshock Festival has already caused a huge resonance worldwide, with support from representatives of the creative intelligentsia of dozens of countries, including prominent Russian cultural figures like Andrey Petrov, Nikita Mikhalkov, Oleg Tabakov, and many others. The Electroshock Festival offers not only concerts but also free lectures and masterclasses. Anyone interested in modern forms of classical music, electronic and avant-garde genres, can choose a concert to their liking. The festival provides a rare opportunity for the audience to immerse themselves in the musical culture of the 21st century while delving into the atmosphere of classical and deep musical traditions.