opera and oratorio
Barabbas- opera in two acts
The HKB Chamber Orchestra, led by conductor Igor Andreev, performed the world premiere of the opera Barabbas as a fully staged production. The event brought together singers, dancers, actors, and instrumentalists for two nights (14th and 15th April 2023) at the Biel Volkshaus in Switzerland.

Barabbas follows the well-known story of the people's resistance against Pilate’s occupation of Jerusalem. However, when Barabbas is sentenced to death, his life is saved by another.

Preparations for the production began in December 2022, with the first musical rehearsals. Simultaneously, the concept was developed, centered around a black cloth dividing the stage as a symbol of reversible exclusion.
Director Mira Alkhovik further elaborates on her staging solution:

"I thought for a long time about how to render this inner conflict of national enmity in a way that would be understandable to a modern audience. That is how the concept for our production was born.

Barabbas is a story that transcends nationalities. It is about people striving to find their place in the world, seeking to express themselves in every possible way. What these individuals truly share, however, is a profound sense of loneliness. They speak of freedom and happiness, yet they remain unsure of where to find it.
In the final moments of the play, someone arrives who reveals a powerful truth: what matters most is discovering themselves—free of masks, prejudices, and preconceived attitudes.

Human life is the greatest value. We just need to learn to recognize this value in every person we encounter on our journey."
performance Videos
chamber music
Catalan melodies
lied cycle on clementina arderiu
A profound exploration of feminism through music, Catalan Melodies is a vocal cycle composed by Andrei Maksimov for soprano, piano, and violin. This 40-minute work, written in 2023, draws inspiration from the evocative poetry of Clementina Arderiu. With its nuanced interplay of voice and instruments, the album delves into the depths of Arderiu's feminist themes, bringing her words to life with emotional resonance and artistic clarity. Recorded in the cultural heart of Strasbourg, HEAR University, Catalan Melodies is a powerful testament to the enduring dialogue between poetry and music. Now available on Spotify.
Our Earth
At the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Andrei Maksimov and Mira Alkhovik created a poignant video in support of the Ukrainian people. The video was distributed by the Opera Studio of the Bern University of the Arts.

The song featured in the video was composed in just two days, with lyrics written by Andrei Maksimov. Beginning as a narrative, the song builds into a powerful outpouring of heartfelt emotion, eventually transforming into a bold political statement. The refrain incorporates the leitmotif of Jesus from Maksimov's opera Barabbas.

Andrei Maksimov shared his thoughts on the meaning of Our Earth:

OUR EARTH - MUSIC VIDEO (FEBRUARY 2022)
Andrei Maksimov and Mira Alkhovik

OUR EARTH - World premiere (APRIL 2022)
Andrei Maksimov and Mira Alkhovik
"During World War II, our relatives fought and died to prevent the kind of tragedy we are witnessing now in Ukraine. Every day, lives are lost—irreplaceable people who have given everything for the future they believe in.

They envisioned a future where humanity would grow wiser, and the seeds of destruction would be uprooted before they could take hold. This was the hope of our ancestors, the victors of that distant war. But the memory we were meant to carry across generations has, sadly, been short-lived for some.

I hold on to the belief that a new day of victory will come—a day we will celebrate together. And may that day arrive as soon as possible."
Ave Maria
The Ave Maria duet for soprano and baritone serves as the powerful conclusion to the oratorio Poets, a work dedicated to the tragedy of World War I. Unlike the traditional serene interpretations of the prayer, this Ave Maria is a dramatic and deeply emotional statement, embodying the anguish and longing of an era marked by immense suffering.

Positioned at the very end of the oratorio, it reflects the main character’s journey toward inner peace. Through the act of prayer, they reconcile with themselves, finding solace amidst the chaos of war. The composer explains, "In times of war, uncertainty, and countless personal tragedies, it is impossible not to pray fervently—as if for the very last time. This prayer is not just an appeal to the divine but a moment of profound self-reckoning."

AVE MARIA

February, Maksimov-Pasternak.
Perf. by Mira Alkhovik and Alla Belova, spring 2022
February: the vocal cycle
Another Song of February, a vocal cycle for soprano and baritone, is based on seven poems by Boris Pasternak (1890–1960). The cycle vividly captures the haunting atmosphere of February 2022, when the war in Ukraine began, serving as a poignant statement on the premonition of tragedy and a pervasive sense of despair—themes deeply resonant with Pasternak's timeless poetry.

The cycle premiered in Hamburg in May 2024, offering audiences a profound musical reflection on human suffering and resilience. One of its pieces, February, became part of the VOICES project at the Bern University of the Arts, which showcased artistic responses to the war in Ukraine. This song was first performed in Spring 2022 by Mira Alkhovik and Alla Belova, delivering a raw and emotionally charged interpretation that underscored the urgency of its message.
contact

Balmer and Dixon Management

Florian Krumm krumm@badix.ch


andrei.maksimov.baritone@gmail.com

+43 664 505 5995