History of the carillon in Russia: from Peter the Great to the present day 🎶On 13 October, the Russian House in Brussels hosted a lecture-concert Three Hundred Years of Carillon Art in Russia, given by renowned Belgian carillonneur Jo Haazen. 🎤Accompanied by a short documentary film and a musical performance, Jo Haazen explored the history of carillon art in Russia, tracing its development and revival. 💫Interest in carillons in Russia dates back to Peter the Great. During his travels through Germany and the Netherlands, the Russian tsar was captivated by the sound of carillons in Gdańsk, Riga, Amsterdam and Antwerp, and ordered several instruments to be brought to Moscow and St Petersburg. 🎵A new chapter in this tradition began in 2001, when a new carillon was installed in St Petersburg in the run-up to the city's 300th anniversary. 🎼In 2006, the Faculty of Arts was established at St Petersburg State University. As part of its bachelor's and master's degree programmes, students can study carillon performance alongside the organ and harpsichord. The training is led by Jo Haazen, with the participation of Russian conductor Valery Gergiev.