Mykola SUKACH: “13 will be our lucky number!”

This forum has become a cultural hallmark of the city and music fans always look forward to it. Maestro Mykola Sukach is often called the founding father of “Siversk Music Nights.” Chief conductor of the Chernihiv Symphony Orchestra “Philharmonic Society,” initiator of the festival and of the summer master classes is a very charismatic and active individual. Like a magnet, Sukach attracts talented people (he gathered a team of highly professional orchestra musicians) and every year makes a grand music event for Chernihiv residents. Sukach does not make the main recipe for the success of “Siversk Music Nights” a secret: good music, perfect performance, and all together it provides emotional and intellectual information for the audience. The Day spoke with Mykola SUKACH about the program of the festival, special concerts, and star musicians that were invited to perform at the festival.

“This year the traditional time of the ‘Siversk Music Nights’ Festival coincided with the 140th anniversary of birth (April 2, 1873) and 70th anniversary of death (March 28, 1943) of the outstanding Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. That’s why we prepared a program that consists solely of music compositions composed by him. Music of this composer does not leave anyone indifferent even though it is rather complicated for performing. Our musical project includes three symphonies, famous Symphonic Dances, three piano concertos, and Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, romances and opera arias, as well as compositions for two pianos. I am convinced that 13 will be the lucky number for our festival!

“The guest of honor and the ‘talisman’ for all festival years has been the well-known pianist Vadim Rudenko. He is a musician with bright romantic talent, virtuoso, gravitating to large music compositions. Rudenko especially prefers music written by Rachmaninoff. A few years ago together with our orchestra ‘Philharmonic Society’ he made a unique musical project – we performed five concerts of Rachmaninoff in two days! This is probably the world record. Rudenko plays music by Rachmaninoff in the manner that is the closest to the author’s performing. It is the special sincerity of Rachmaninoff’s musical phrases, most of which start with a culmination and then gradually subside. Along with the melodious tunes we tried to interpret and reproduce the bell ringing as one of the major features of the music composed by the classic.

“Maria Kaluhina, a young pianist, will perform the compositions for two pianos together with Rudenko. This duet debuted at our festival two years ago. I am convinced that their performance of two suites and original version of Symphonic Dances will cause great interest among the public.

“Conductor Hobart Earle (USA), who has been the music director of the National Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra for a number of years, will also participate in the festival. Soloist of Mariisnky Theater Mikhail Kit (he also sings in Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and others) will perform romances and opera arias together with a young opera singer from Kyiv Valeria Tulis. The ‘highlight’ of the festival will be the meeting with Aleksandr Ermakov, director of the Rachmaninoff Museum in Ivanovka, Tambov oblast, the man who reconstructed the house of the composer from ruins and for 40 years has been its guardian angel. He will tell many interesting and unknown facts about the life of maestro and his family.

“The festival will end on April 2 – birthday of Sergei Rachmaninoff. On that day we will perform the first and the last compositions written by the classic – Concerto No.1 for piano and orchestra and Symphonic Dances (soloist – Vadim Rudenko, Russia). I would also like to note that previously it was believed that Rachmaninoff was born on April 1, but it is known for a fact that it is a wrong date that entered the reference books, and the real date of his birth is April 2. Our festival is made possible thanks to the efforts and help of concerned individuals. I would like to thank the head of Chernihiv Oblast State Administration Volodymyr Khomenko for supporting ‘Siversk Music Nights’ and purchasing musical instruments for our symphony orchestra ‘Philharmonic Society’ (because our musicians are the main performers at the festival by the number of complex compositions), chairman of the Raiffeisen Bank Aval Volodymyr Lavrenchuk for financial assistance, and The Day’s Editor-in-Chief Larysa Ivshyna for media support.”