Mikhail Pletnev starts a new orchestra

The conductor of the Russian National Orchestra has lived in Switzerland for the past 30 years.

In a rare interview in Croatia with Branimir Pofuk, he describes being cut off from his musicians in Moscow and making alternative arrangements – his first recording with a new orchestra:

‘My orchestra in Moscow is called RNO (Russian National Orchestra). Now we have put together RIO (Russian* International Orchestra). We gathered in Bratislava where 18 musicians from my orchestra came from Russia. Some came from Vienna, members of the Bratislava Philharmonic joined us, as well as several musicians from Ukraine.’

Full interview here.

*UPDATE: Pletnev says there was a misunderstanding in the interview. The name of his new orchestra is Rachmaninov International Orchestra.