Established in 2011, Classics and Jazz was the only Russian crossover festival gathering acclaimed jazz and classical performers on the same stage. Taking place on a yearly basis in 2011-2013, the festival was headed by Peter Dmitriev, celebrated Russian pianist and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, in capacity of an artistic director, and enjoyed full support from Anton Abugov as a member of the festival’s board of trustees. Foundation A made a significant financial contribution to the festival throughout all the years of its existence. The festival was primarily aimed at reviving the accessibility and popular appeal of jazz and classical music. With free admission to all the concerts it successfully managed to draw substantial public attention. Over the years it welcomed more than 500 thousand visitors.
In the intervening years the festival has hosted an impressive number of famous musicians from Russia and abroad, including Boris Andrianov, Oleg Kireyev, Nikita Mndoyants, Pavel Kogan and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Joshua Redman, George Andrew Cables, Eddie Henderson, Sharon Clark, Nicolas Bearde, James Weidman, Al Foster Quartet and many others.
By contributing to the festival, Foundation A has proved its sincere devotion to support of talented musicians and promotion of both classical and contemporary music. For example, in December 2016 the foundation granted its support to the LA-based Far From Moscow festival. Over the course of one weekend the audience was introduced to the diverse world of new Russian music from classics to techno. The festival featured performances by such musicians as Philipp Kopachevsky, Andrey Baranov, Boris Andrianov, Evgeny Tonkha, Boris Allakhverdyan, Alissa Margulis and Alexander Bouzlov among others.
Reviews for the Classics and Jazz festival:
"Jazz and classics become interrelated during a festival at Tsaritsyno".
Vesti TV channel
"Free admission is the best card of the festival".
Kommersant newspaper
"The concept of bringing together two musical genres drew interest among the audience and performers".
Moscow 24 TV channel
"World-class musicians have been playing both classical highlights and jazz standards".
Culture TV channel