Vladislav Chernushenko came to lead St Petersburg State Academic Cappella in 1974. Awarded the honored title People’s artist of the USSR, laureate of Russia state prizes, Chernushenko was born in 1936. Initial musical education he got at the Choir school of the State Cappella. The outstanding choral conductor Pallady Bogdanov was among his teachers. Famous conductors, such as Ilya Musin, Evgeny Mravinsky, and Nikolay Rabinovich were his educators at the Leningrad Conservatory.
Creative interests of Chernushenko include a variety of masterpieces of Russian and European classical music, as well as the works of Soviet and contemporary Russian composers. Chernushenko goes oftentimes back to forgotten or less known pieces of Russian sacred music, revives them from oblivion, thus enriching the repertoire with many a beautiful example of musical art performed at various times during the glorious, more than 500-year long history of the Choir.
The art of Chernushenko perpetuates the best traditions of St Petersburg musical school. Respect for the original authors texts, laconicism and void of outward effects intrinsic to his conducting style, appealing not to the ear but to the heart of the audience are the main features of Maestro Chernushenko’s artistic turn of expression. Domestic and foreign tours of the famous St Petersburg choir are numerous and successful, and the performances bring out the feeling of delight in both Russian and foreign listeners.
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