Chief Conductor and Artistic Director
People's artist of Russia, National Award winner, Member of the Academy of Arts of Russia, Silver Medal laureate of Irina Arkhipova Foundation, professor, Arts History Doctor.
Since 1975, People's Artist of Russia, National Award winner Yuri Kochnev has been Chief Conductor, and since 1991, Artistic Director of, Saratov Opera and Ballet. Over that period, more than 50 productions have been released under his guidance, among them, Boris Godunov and Khovanschina by Moussorgski, Ivan Susanin by Glinka, The Rise and Fall of Mahogany City by Kurt Weil (Russian Premiere), Krutnava by E.Suhon, Don Giovanni by Mozart, Lohengrin and Tannhauser by Wagner, The Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by Shostakovich (The first version), Rigoletto and Un Ballo in Maschere by G.Verdi, Der Freischutz by Weber, Tosca by G.Puccini, Die Zauberfloete by V.Mozart, Eugene Onegin and The Queen of Spades by Tchaikovski, Marguerite by V.Kobekin (world premiere).
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In 2006, Yuri Kochnev was appointed Head of the Commission for musical theatres established by Russian Theatre Workers Union, and was also elected President of the panel for musical theatre factor of Golden Mask National Festival. It was on maestro Kochnev's initiative that Sobinov Festival of Music was launched in 1986; since 1999, he has been acting as Head of Jury Panel for the Contest of Voice Competitions' Winners within the framework of the Festival.
Yury Kochnev elaborated and organized the projects «Russian opera companies guest-performing in Saratov» (seasons of 1999–2000 and 2002–2003), and «The parade of Russian conductors on stage of Saratov Opera» (the season of 2006–2007). In 2002, the project of «Russian opera companies guest-performing in Saratov» was allocated Presidential Grant. In 2003, the «Musical Review» periodical proclaimed Yuri Kochnev «Conductor of the year».
Maestro Kochnev's repertoire embraces all major works belonging in opera and symphony classics, among them:
