Holiday with Sibelius

Last week the National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine, supported by the Finnish Embassy in Ukraine, celebrated Finland’s Independence Day and, at the same time, launched a new philharmonic cycle called “Music Culture of Europe” initiated by Yurii Suldin.

The concert’s program consisted of the works of Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), the indisputably most favorite composer in Finland. Nearly all the works, except for Finlandia and Valse Triste, had never been performed in Kyiv.

Sibelius’ heritage is well-known to the world music community, and his symphonies and the famous Violin Concerto have been played many times in various countries of the world. For Finns the works of Sibelius are, above all, the embodiment and quintessence of national identity.

Unlike many European countries whose music culture was centered around and supported and stimulated by royal courts, in Finland it grew directly from its famous epic tradition because the country never had a king. Interestingly, this small country succeeded in becoming the promised land of symphony and choral music.

The first part of the concert featured Sibelius’ early works played by the young string quartet POST SCRIPTUM (founded in 2006), which, however, is mature in its technique. It includes Sonia Suldina (violin), Viktor Ivanov (violin), Andrii Malakhov (viola), and Viktor Hlushchenko (cello). Their high-level performing technique was aptly complemented by their intellectual interpretation of the music they perform, leaving a wonderful aftertaste of a music bouquet.

Valentyn Silvestrov said in an interview: “What impresses me about this quartet is the range of its repertoire and its professional commitment. It is evident; this is what I see. The world has been immersed in vanity for centuries, and that is why a group of like-minded musicians who are committed to music, are attentive to its underlying essence, and undertake a certain cultural mission remains, unfortunately, a lonely messenger and a stranger from the distant times when spirituality and beauty reigned supreme.

The second part of the concert included the composer’s later works performed by the symphony orchestra of Ukraine’s National Philharmonic Society conducted by Latvian Richard Buks. This young conductor is well-known in our country-he is a laureate of the Stefan Turchak Competition.

Buks showed excellent understanding of the orchestra and masterful command of semitones. Suldina, a young, slender violin player, performed the solo in an inspired way.

The musicologist Olesia Oliinyk, who was the emcee at the concert, greatly enriched the program with her emotional, heart-felt rendering of highly informative text.

In January 2009 the European cycle will be continued with Czech music, while in February the concert “Return of Romanticism” will feature works by Schumann, Schubert, and Tchaikovsky. POST SCRIPTUM will participate in all the concerts, which is certain to ensure their success with the audience.