Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture

Presented by Tom Service. Part of Radio 3's Breaking Free: A Century of Russian Culture.

Tom meets Teodor Currentzis, the controversial Greek-born, Russian-nationalised conductor who has revolutionised musical life in the city of Perm, near the Ural Mountains on the edge of Siberia. Currentzis reveals how he and his period instrument ensemble, Musicaeterna, are finding news way of making music together and changing the nature of the relationship with their audience. Plus, why he dislikes going to classical concerts, and listening to his latest recording of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony on a boat in a Greek storm.

Tom also explores musical life in Russia now, talking to composers Sergej Newski, who runs the Platform Project, an experimental contemporary arts programme in Moscow, and Elena Langer, who left Russia in the late 1990s and has lived in London ever since. British composer Gabriel Prokofiev reflects on taking his music to the homeland of his grandfather Sergei, and the violinist Roman Mints, whose Homecoming Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary in January, tells Tom about the impact of today's Russian cultural policy on musical freedom.