St. Petersburg’s New Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Comes to India for the First Time

Mumbai is set to get a major dose of Russian classical music as the New Chamber St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra makes its India debut at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) on September 15.

The ensemble will perform at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, in a concert led by conductor Yaroslav Zaboyarkin. The program will celebrate Russia’s musical heritage while marking the 120th birth anniversary of legendary composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

The concert will also feature works by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and other major composers from the classical tradition.

Shostakovich Takes Center Stage

The Mumbai performance will focus on Shostakovich, whose artistic legacy is closely associated with St. Petersburg.

For the musicians of the New Chamber St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, performing his compositions carries an added significance because of their connection to the same musical environment that shaped the composer.

“We are musicians brought up in Dmitry Shostakovich’s hometown. We perform as part of an orchestra considered one of the finest interpreters of his music. The music of Shostakovich flows in our veins,” Zaboyarkin said.

That connection is expected to form a defining part of the orchestra’s first Indian performance.

A Young Orchestra With Deep Musical Roots

Zaboyarkin founded the New Chamber St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020 with support from acclaimed Russian conductor Yuri Temirkanov.

Although relatively young, the orchestra draws musicians from several important institutions in St. Petersburg. Its members include young performers, musicians from the renowned St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, and artistes associated with the St. Petersburg Conservatory.

The ensemble has built its identity around both celebrated classical repertoire and lesser-known works. Its performances, premieres and international cultural projects aim to combine established musical traditions with new interpretations.

Yaroslav Zaboyarkin

Russia-India Cultural Exchange Takes the Stage

The orchestra’s Mumbai debut comes amid continued cultural exchanges between India and Russia, with classical music providing a powerful platform for artistic dialogue.

The NCPA presentation is therefore more than a traditional orchestral concert. It also brings a distinct part of St. Petersburg’s musical heritage to an Indian audience for the first time.

For Mumbai’s classical music community, the performance offers a chance to hear Russian repertoire through the perspective of musicians directly connected to the city’s historic musical institutions.

VTB Bank supports the concert as General Partner.

New Chamber St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra India Debut: Ticket Prices

The performance will take place on September 15, 2026, at 7:00 pm and will run for approximately two hours.

Member ticket prices are ₹720 (about US$8.10), ₹900 (about US$10.10), ₹1,350 (about US$15.20), and ₹1,620 (about US$18.20).

Non-member tickets are priced at ₹800 (about US$9), ₹1,000 (about US$11.20), ₹1,500 (about US$16.90) and ₹1,800 (about US$20.20).

The event is open to audiences aged 6 and above.

With Shostakovich at the heart of the program and a young ensemble carrying the St. Petersburg tradition to an Indian stage, the NCPA concert promises a notable cultural meeting between two musical worlds.