Saint Petersburg  |  Russia  |  April 10, 2025

The evolution of carillon music in Russia

Russia started taking part in the congresses of the World Carillon Federation in 2011. After a period of rapid development during the 18th and early 19th centuries, the evolution of carillon music in Russia was put on hold until 2001, the year that the new instrument was installed in Saint Petersburg. 2006 saw the opening of the Carillon Department in St Petersburg University, which is still the only such department in the country, and by 2011 Russia had something to offer to the international carillon community.

"I was honoured to represent my country, for the first time in history, at the WCF congress 2011. I was feeling very nervous, probably like an Olympic athlete feels, although music is certainly different from sport, but it all went very well. There were a lot of networking opportunities and I made many new friends, so now I would like to send warm regards, love and gratitude to Dennis and Susan Curry, as well as Joe Maher." Olesya Rostovskaya, delegate at the 2011 and 2017 congresses.

The WCF world congresses that followed helped us move forward, encouraging us to publish new music and CDs and to assess the progress we had made since earlier congresses. It is natural for any professional community to build international relations and share achievements. Of course, although we have the internet, it is no substitute for personal communication. The present conflict began through no fault of Russian carillonists, we did not want it, but as a result we find ourselves cut off from the rest of the carillon community. It is regrettable that politics tend to ruin people's lives. Still, we must hope that at some time in the future the situation will change and we will see better days.

Saint Petersburg  |  Russia  |  March 1, 2025

International Carillon Festival in Saint Petersburg

From June 23 to July 9, 2024, the 22nd international carillon festival "Music Over the City" took place in St Petersburg. This included 13 concerts with a variety of programmes. Following tradition, one of the concerts was dedicated to the memory of Elizaveta Rulyova.

On July 5, there was an ensemble of two carillons, namely from St Petersburg and the Belgorod mobile carillon. This concert included ensembles of two carillons, a carillon and organ, two carillons and Russian traditional peal (zvon), carillon and electronics.

Students from the University carillon class performed in several concerts and represented their own countries, Belarus and China.

Olesya Rostovskaya entertained the audience with a "Guess the Tune" game in which people first had to recognise a piece from a short fragment and then listen to the carillon arrangement of the whole composition.

At the end of the festival, the audience was introduced to specific features of, and differences between, the carillon tradition and the Russian peal.

Saint Petersburg  |  Russia  |  June 7, 2024

Summer Concerts in St. Petersburg

In Saint Petersburg, a new summer season has started, and the weekly Sunday concerts, which run all year round, now begin at 5 pm.

On May 12th, an international carillon concert took place featuring students from the Department of Organ, Harpsichord, and Carillon at Saint Petersburg State University, namely, Kallinika Medvedeva (Belarus), Haitao Lin (China), and the department's teacher Olesya Rostovskaya.

The carillon of St. Peter and Paul Fortress in Saint Petersburg is regularly involved in concerts that include bells tolled in the Russian tradition, otherwise known as zvon. As part of the three-day festival "Chimes of the Northern Capital," such a concert was held on May 19th, featuring Nadezhda Volnenko, Irina Kozlova, Olesya Rostovskaya, and bell-ringers from St. Petersburg, Novgorod and Moscow.

Preparations are underway for the summer festival "Music Over the City", which traditionally takes place during the White Nights period in Saint Petersburg.

Saint Petersburg  |  Russia  |  March 8, 2024

Commemoration concert for Elizaveta Rulyova

On January 21 a commemoration concert for carillonist and organist Elizaveta Rulyova (1988-2021) took place in St. Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Petersburg. Elizaveta had graduated from the Department of Organ, Harpsichord and Carillion of St. Petersburg State University and was one of the most active members of the Russian carillon guild.

Having conquered cancer herself, Elizaveta (Liza) volunteered for the AdVita Foundation which supports cancer patients. "If I can give people support, I simply cannot help doing so", she used to say. She has played many concerts, both in Russia and abroad until, unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic broke all her plans.

Sunday concerts in St. Peter and Paul's Fortress take place all the year round in all weathers, and every year in late January we play a concert to commemorate Liza. This year, taking part in the concert were Olesya Rostovskaya, Maria Lobetskaya and Irina Kozlova.

Also, every year we include a commemoration concert for Liza in our summer festival called 'Music over the City'. Liza's family members make a point to attend, to stay close to the carillon which she used to play and spend time with her friends. Elizaveta was a great friend and we miss her greatly.