Salutary “Premieres”
A concert of the Meritorious Symphony Orchestra of the National Radio Company of Ukraine conducted by Vyacheslav Blinov opened the Twelfth International Premieres of the Season Festival at Ukrainian House in Kyiv.
The festival was arranged by the Kyiv organization of the National Composers’ Union, which explains certain specifics, including the absence of previously selected compositions. Its task is rather philanthropic, performing compositions written by capital and other Ukrainian composers during the past year. Considering the numerous obstacles faced by our composers when trying to promulgate their works (ranging from lack of premises and rehearsals to high rent), it is easy to understand that the Premieres is for many the only chance to show their worth to devotees and critics under more or less civilized conditions. For the public as well it is a unique opportunity to see what is actually going on in the domestic composers’ school and listen to top-notch performers.
This year’s program looks attractive on both counts. In ten days the National Philharmonic Society and the House of Scholars hosted the Kyiv Soloists chamber ensemble, conducted by Bohodar Kotorovych, Valery Matiukhyn’s Kyiv Camerata, new music ensemble Ricochet, Meritorious National Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Volodymyr Syrenko, plus several adult and children’s choirs from Kyiv, Nizhyn, and Dnipropetrovsk. As for composers, there is little doubt that the twelfth premiere series will be dominated by two most celebrated names: Yevhen Stankovych and Valentyn Sylvestrov. Incidentally, this year marks Stankovych’s sixtieth and Sylvestrov’s 65th birthdays. Volodymyr Syrenko’s Meritorious National Orchestra performed Stankovych’s symphonic poem Khanuka for the first time in Ukraine at the National Philharmonic Society, April 9, also Liatoshynsky’s Symphony No. 4 and Sylvestrov’s Metamusic. Interestingly, Syrenko orchestra’s similar program (save for Stankovych) was at one time praised by the Polish press as the best concert of the philharmonic season in Warsaw.
The plum of the festival consisted of Sylvestrov’s opuses, including a three part Drama for the violin, cello, and piano. Naturally, the audience will be particularly interested in several powerful choral concerts St. Michael’s Cathedral, St. Nicholas’s Church, and Architect’s Home.
Premieres will end in a choral and chamber concert at the House of Organ Music. And there will be a special concluding word. The experimental Cabinet Theater from Vienna will present its version of Igor Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale at the Lavra Gallery on April 18.
