• Українська
  • Русский
  • English
Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Virtuoso of the Bow and Virtuoso of Show Business

15 December, 1998 - 00:00

Apparently it was no accident that Gedon Kremer gathered only young
musicians in his orchestra.


If it is true that a genuine artist should remain a marveling child
until his hair turns gray, this 51-year-old violinist is a classical proof
to it.

His play is not only captivating, but also primitive, making you forget
all about technical ruses and mastery.

Shortsighted, he peers into a script on the music stand and his mouth
falls open as if he were an eager child building a tower with blocks. This
is why we get the impression he does not play music but creates it. Should
we be surprised after all that the first-rate modern music composers, such
as Arve Piart, Alfred Schnitke, Karl-Heintz Stockgausen, dedicated their
works to him? With the assistance of Leonid Desiatnikov of Saint Petersburg
Kremer turned the piano forte pieces of his Argentinean friend Astor Piazzolla
into the Four Seasons cycle, an act both courageous and intelligent,
but also childish and just as genial as the idea to perform the parts of
this cycle alternately with Vivaldi. He performs as inspired and free as
a child building his toy world. And at the same time he fills the souls
of his listeners not only with admiration of being a part of such a great
flight of the spirit, but with regret for losing such a fresh and honest
view of the world.

By Serhiy VASYLIEV, The Day

Fantastic prices (up to Hr 1200) for tickets to Vanessa Mae's concert
did not confuse our top politicians, including


the President; who occupied the first rows in the Ukrayina Palace.

Young talents from music schools and journalists took seats in the gallery,
whence the violinist was hardly visible. Moreover, she spoke English. Apparently,
the concert organizers thought Ukraine is so Americanized, that people
would not need an interpreter. However, the spectators gathered there because
of the music, and they got the best. Mae's performance of Mozart, Vivaldi,
Tchaikovsky with the electric violin in the technopop style combined with
moves a la Michael Jackson was striking.

Judging from the public's reaction, most of the spectators liked the
concert despite the President's guards radio whispering in the background.
The experts' evaluation was far more reserved.

"Vanessa Mae is a good idea plus expensive promotion project plus her
good-looks," composer and musician Kyrylo Stetsenko said. "In alone Kyiv
I know over twenty violinists who play much better than she. But they do
not have so many opportunities and money for promotion."

"If our President were carrying out the right economic policy, we would
have many musicians like Vanessa Mae. Our talented people could achieve
a great deal and be happy. Besides, they could bring much money to the
state," music teacher Tetiana Shapovalova believes. "But so far the money
continues to flow abroad along with our talent."

By Inna KOLESNYKOVA, Center for Journalistic Research

 

Rubric: