Trombones

Andrey Saltanov

In the orchestra since 2006

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A MUSICIAN?

This decision came naturally when my father sent me to music school. He was a trombone player and wanted me to follow in his footsteps. I’m very grateful to him now. Everything has fallen in place perfectly. Being part of such an orchestra and working with Teodor Currentzis is every musician’s dream. I can say I’m truly happy.

WHAT MAKES MUSICAETERNA STAND OUT?

Freedom… This orchestra runs by completely different rules. It’s not the place for those who want to clock out at 5 p.m., go home and forget about the work till next morning. Music is our life here.

WHAT CHANGES IN YOU WHEN YOU GO UP ON STAGE?

I like being on stage. I’m an open-hearted person and love to perform in front of an audience. Every concert feels like a party to me — particularly when I have a bit of music to play. Trombones may sometimes have very limited parts (this is particularly true for old music scores). So we usually just sit around and listen to great soloists working with Teodor.

WHAT DO YOU DREAM TO PERFORM?

Teodor tends to pick the pieces I’ve always wanted to play: Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Wagner. Everything Teodor may think of feels like a treat. You just can’t get bored with him!

DO YOU HAVE A LIFELONG DREAM?

I love where I’m at in my life right now: we tour a lot, play on the world’s biggest stages and work with the best soloists. I just wish I had more time for myself and my own projects. I have a lot of ideas, both in classical and in modern music. They demand time and focus to come to life though. I also dream to have all my family in the same city: right now, my wife lives in Perm, my child studies in Novosibirsk, and I work in Saint Petersburg. I want all of us to be together.