The festival "is to become a highlight of the new concert season", the organizing committee told RIA Novosti.
"Shnitke's compositions having no unnecessary notes range him among greatest composers," Yuri Bashmet participating in the festival told a press conference. His music has become classical worldwide, Mr. Bashmet added.
"Alfred was a very modest person and used to explain the success of this music with the talent of its performers," USSR People's Artist, conductor Sauljus Sondetskis noted.
In his words, "all outstanding musicians were very proud when Shnitke wrote music especially for them and treated these compositions with great responsibility".
Famous musicians, including Vladimir Spivakov, Gidon Kremer, Natalia Gutman, Yuri Bashmet and Oleg Krysa, will perform at the festival featuring all Shnitke's legacy.
The composer's widow, well-known pianist Irina Shnitke and the U.S. Cronos Quartet who were the first to perform Shnitke's compositions, will participate in the festival, as well.
The event is organized by the Moscow International Music House, the Moscow government, the German Foreign Ministry and the German and U.S. embassies in Russia. The organizing committee is headed by Mstislav Rostropovich.
The festival will be running until October 20.
