Yury Bashmet's viola has served as a flying carpet that has brought his innovative and emotional sound to millions of music lovers worldwide. With his relaxed on-stage demeanor, Bashmet has always been searching for new ways of uncommon musical expression. In fact, Bashmet is the man who finally made a "string revolution" in music, and thanks to him the viola's come out of its humble shadow, gained its own musical niche and became an important, valued solo instrument.

Bashmet prefers playing music by emotionally expressive and flexible composers such as Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Shnitke, and Stravinsky. Three things he strives for are sophistication, clarity and respect for what the composer wrote. It's hard to find a more versatile, engaging and mind-expanding musician than Bashmet. As a soloist and a conductor, he performs with the best symphonic orchestras of the world: Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Bayerishe Rundfunk, San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, London Symphony, Radio France, Parisian Orchestra and the Wiener Philharmonic.

Bashmet's resume is incredible: The winner of numerous awards, he is an art director of the famous December Nights musical festival, a professor at the Moscow Conservatory and host of his own TV program, "Dream Station," on the Kultura TV channel. And these activities only scratch the surface. Don't miss your chance to attend Bashmet's concert in the Moscow Conservatory's Big Hall on Jan. 24, the maestro's 50th birthday. Those who come to the Conservatory concert or make it to his show at the suburban art gallery Dacha three days later will get a taste of quality music and a feeling of having listened to a legendary performer, and also an understanding of Bashmet's philosophy and vision of the world - a tangle of good and evil, wisdom and beauty.