On September 17 the 140th concert season at Ukraine’ s National Philharmonic opened

The anniversary season started in a festive atmosphere with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony performed by the Philharmonic’s Symphonic Orchestra, Dumka Choir, and foreign soloists. The first such large-scale concert in Kyiv was a joint project of the Philharmonic, Fund to Promote the Development of the Arts, along with the embassies of Germany, Italy, and France.

The heroes of the occasion keep records of their history from 1863 when the Kyiv branch of the Empire’s Russian Musical Society was founded by public figures and musicians: Pfenig, Lysenko, Seletsky, and Bohdanov. The building for the Merchants’ Assembly (now premises of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine) was designed by architect Volodymyr Mykolayev. It hosted balls, charitable lotteries, literary and musical soirees, which gained popularity with the Kyiv public. The musicians appreciated the hall’s acoustics. Great maestros performed here: Chaliapin, Sobinov, Nezhdanova, Rachmaninoff, and others. One of the most brilliant pages in the Philharmonic’s history was written by the founder of Ukrainian professional musical culture, composer Mykola Vitaliyovych Lysenko, whose name the Hall of Columns has borne since 1962. For example, Sviatoslav Richter, when visiting Kyiv, stipulated that he would perform only at the Philharmonic. Violinist David Oistrach and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich were bewitched by its hall’s acoustic potential. In various years the hall saw triumphant performances by Lev Revutsky, Reinhold Gliere, Vladimir Horowitz, Aram Khachaturian, Borys Hmyria, Sergei Prokofiev, Anatoly Solovyanenko, Emil Gilels, Stefan Turchak, Evgeny Svetlanov, Dmitry Shostakovich, Mariya Bieshu, Ivan Kozlovsky, Viktoriya Lukyanets, and other outstanding musicians.

It is noteworthy that the anniversary of one of Kyiv’s oldest concert organizations started with Ten Days of the Philharmonic Art. Arias from operas were sung by soloist of the National Opera of Ukraine and the Bolshoi Theater Taras Shtonda. New programs were prepared by a bayan quartet directed by Serhiy Hrinchenko, soloists Lidiya Kondrashenko, Valery Buymister, and other musicians of the Philharmonic. The Haydamaky poetical-musical performance based on Taras Shevchenko’s poem of the same name was executed by Anatoly Palamarenko, the Pop and Symphonic Orchestra, and Revutsky Male Choir.

Dmytro OSTAPENKO, General Director of the Philharmonic:

“In this season we will proceed with season ticket soirees, which are so popular with the audience. The Violin Music cycle will include eight concerts by the Moskoviya Chamber Orchestra, Glinka String Quartet, soloists Liana Isaakadze, Myroslava Kotorovych, Vadim Brodsky, Maksim Fiedorov, Gaik Kazizian, and Graf Murzha. The Art of Piano Play cycle will start with a concert of the Volodymyr Krainev Invites International Festival. Sergei Rachmaninoff’s opuses will be executed by young and original pianists Ihor Chetuyev (Ukraine), Michelle Dalberto (France), and Ayako Uekhari. Kyiv audience will meet with Vladimir Viardo (US), Pavel Nersesian, Vadim Rudenko and Denis Matsuyev (Russia), Vitaly Samoshko (Belgium). The Magic Guitar cycle will present the Kyiv Quartet, Evgeny Finkelstein, Dmitry Illarionov and Pavel Khlopovski (Russia), Yevhen Hrydiushka (Belarus), and Volodymyr Dotsenko (Ukraine). Another pleasant surprise for music lovers will be the Twentieth Century Symphony cycle. It will include music by Ukrainian and foreign composers Stravinsky, Ravel, Stankovich, Maiboroda, Schnitke, Silvestrov, and Skoryk. This is a present from Philharmonic’s youngest ensemble, the Symphonic Orchestra (director Mykola Diadiura) created in 1995. The musicians’ potential is tremendous. In a short time they have managed to win kudos not only in Ukraine but abroad. They have many tours. For example, from August 18 to 31 the orchestra participated in the International Music Festival, which was held for 37th time at the medieval La Chese-Dieu Abbey. This was the third time our musicians have been invited to this forum. They played pieces by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Mascagni, Verdi, Beethoven, and Berlioz. Judging by the feedback in the French press, their performance was splendid.

“The museum at the Lysenko Column Hall exposes a world map titled The Creative World of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine. Color points mark the countries and cities where our artistes were on tour. There are 130 foreign capitals alone marked. In their turn, best musicians from Great Britain, Italy, Turkey, Spain, Germany, the US, France, China, Poland, Israel, Japan, etc., perform on our stage. This becomes possible due to our cooperation with foreign embassies in Ukraine and cultural centers of various countries.

“We will also host creative reports of oblasts philharmonics. By tradition, we’ll invite public to our Column Hall for the Kyiv Music Fest International Festival. The National Symphonic Orchestra of Ukraine directed by Volodymyr Sirenko, Bandura Players Ensemble directed by Mykola Hvozd, National Orchestra of Folk Instruments, etc., will please music lovers with their new programs. We will hold the Days of Germany, France, and the Crimean Tatar Culture. A Star Way of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine: History, Past and Present book by Yevhen Yavorsky was published to celebrate the anniversary.

“In October the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra will celebrate its fortieth anniversary. Its conductor and artistic director Roman Kofman will not only receive greetings but also present a festive program together with his orchestra. This season will be anything but easy for Roman Isaakovych. He has signed a five-year contract in Germany and now heads the Bonn Opera and Beethoven Symphonic Orchestra, although he doesn’t neglect his beloved child, the Chamber Orchestra, with which thirteen years of his fruitful creative life are connected.”

Roman KOFMAN:

“The situation is quite tense. Previously I used to have only two foreign contracts: with the Seoul Orchestra and Paderewski Philharmonic Orchestra (Bydgosz, Poland). Now I have to work seriously in Germany. I have to present two operas and prepare concert programs. For me this season will be an experiment. The National Philharmonic’s administration took the chance. I’ll try not to let them down and keep up with everything. If I’ll be able to keep the Chamber Orchestra in good shape, we’ll prolong our alliance. At least, I intend to perform in Ukraine frequently.

“On October 1 a scholarly theoretical conference will be held in Kyiv dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the Philharmonic’s activities. Renowned composers, conductors, singers, and musicologists from various regions of our country as the well as far and near abroad will gather here. Judging by the schedule, the Philharmonic’s season promises to be saturated with creative events.”