One of the most spectacular Russian musicians, People's Artist of Russia Alexander Rudin is invited to take part in the production of Leo Delibes' opera Lakme as its music director and conductor.

“I like French music very much. It has subtlety, refinement, some appealingness. And Lakme has all these features in abundance. It is sincere and, at the same time, refined. This is the combination I do like. Meanwhile, this music is carefully instrumented, it is not simple, and not just an accompaniment to vocals - the role of music in the performance is essential and independent.
 And I am glad that I was invited to stage the opera that attracts me very much. In Lakme, we adhere to the author's text. Working with the Krasnoyarsk orchestra, we pay special attention to the sound quality: the performance should not be rough, aggressive, "fat". I try to convey exactly this attitude about this musical matter: transparent, refined and, at the same time, sincere and touching.” - Alexander Izrailevich commented.

Alexander Rudin is a cellist, pianist, and conductor. Since 1988, he has headed up one of the best Russian orchestras - the Moscow Academic Chamber Orchestra Musica Viva. He’s chief conductor of the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Schnittke Saratov Regional Philharmonic, professor at the Moscow Conservatory. Alexander is a winner of many awards, including the Order of Friendship and State Prize of Russia in the field of literature and art. He won several highly reputable international competitions: the Bach Competition in Leipzig (1976), the Gaspar Cassado one in Florence (1979), the Tschaikovsky Contest in Moscow (1978, 1982), and others.

As a cellist, Alexander Rudin is one of the undisputed leaders of the Russian performing school. As an educator, he acquired the status of a musician who opens up unknown and beautiful pages of the world's music heritage to thousands of listeners. For example, he was the first musician in modern Russia who, along with the Musica Viva Orchestra, presented the works of Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach, Antonio Salieri, Ignaz Pleyel to the public, as well as Jan Dussek, Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, and others.

As a conductor, Alexander Rudin actively collaborates with various music collectives: he performs along with the Symphony Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Russian National Orchestra, Tschaikovsky State Academic Grand Symphony Orchestra, E. F. Svetlanov State Academic Symphony Orchestra, symphony and chamber orchestras of Norway, Finland, Turkey, and others. In many of his concert programmes, Alexander Rudin performs, at the same time, as a soloist and conductor, combining the heading of the orchestra and a solo career.

The premiere shows of Lakme will take place in early March. On March 1, 2, 3, Alexandra Rudin will take the conductor’s stand, on March 4, Vladimir Lande will.