Struny (series) (2021)
Release Year: 2021
Nation: Russia
Alternative Title: Струны, Strings
Director: Alexander Kessel, Ivan Korvin, Nikolay Viktorov
Writer: Anna Gershovich, Evgeniy Vikharev, Irina Udyakova, Kaleriya Demina, Liliya Dudakova
Production & Genre
Story
The series follows four gifted cello students at the prestigious Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow who are suddenly thrust into the spotlight after a video of them playing together goes viral on the internet. This unexpected fame leads them to form a professional quartet, but it also creates a deep conflict between their new life as rising crossover stars and the rigorous, traditional discipline required for the elite International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Their journey is guided by their demanding new teacher, Konstantin Bagritsky, a brilliant cellist whose own performing career came to a mysterious halt. As the students—Oleg, Natasha, Margo, and Mark—navigate the high-pressure world of classical music, they must deal with personal struggles, including complicated romances, financial hurdles for music videos, and family secrets, such as the reappearance of Natasha's long-lost father. Ultimately, the group must decide whether to chase modern commercial success or stay true to the high-stakes world of academic classical excellence while facing the temptations and obstacles of young adulthood.
Summary
Set against the competitive backdrop of the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow, Struny tells the story of four exceptionally talented young cellists whose lives change overnight when a video of them playing together goes viral. Under the guidance of their brilliant but enigmatic teacher, Konstantin Bagritsky—a former virtuoso whose career was cut short—they form an unlikely string quartet.
The narrative explores the friction between the allure of modern commercial success and the soul-crushing discipline required for the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition. As the group grapples with their newfound fame, they must navigate a web of personal challenges: Natasha faces a forbidden attraction to her mentor and the sudden return of her estranged father; Margo struggles for financial independence; and Oleg fights to meet his teacher’s impossibly high standards. Balancing loyalty to their art with the temptations of the spotlight, the students undergo a journey of artistic and personal maturation, ultimately defining what it means to find their own voice in a world governed by tradition.
