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Home , Gidon Kremer, Kurt Sanderling, Kyiv Conservatory, Leonid Kogan, Leslie Parnas, Lviv Conservatory

Sunday, February 16, 2020

NationalNational Symphony Symphony Volodymyr Sirenko, OrchestraOrchestra Chief Conductor ofof UkraineUkraine Natalia Khoma, Cellist

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National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Volodymyr Sirenko, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor

Natalia Khoma,

PROGRAM

Langsam Victoria Poleva

Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 107 Allegro Moderato Cadenza – Allegro con moto

Natalia Khoma, Cello

- INTERMISSION -

Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120 Ziemlich langsam (Moderately slow) – Lebhaft (Lively) Romanze: Ziemlich langsam (Moderately slow) Scherzo: Lebhaft (Lively) Langsam (Slowly) – Lebhaft (Lively)

*PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE*

Columbia Artists 5 Columbus Circle @ 1790 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 www.columbia-artists.com Sunday, February 16, 2020

NOTES ON THE PROGRAM By Aaron Grad

Langsam [1994] VICTORIA POLEVA Born September 11, 1962 in Ukraine Victoria Poleva (or Poliova) studied compositions comprising huge layers of composition at the , dark, rather ambiguous matter. I wanted to following the career path of her father. Once recreate the forces of chaos. I felt how they she abandoned the avant-garde orthodoxy passed through me, and I enjoyed that. Then of her generation’s academic composers, I felt a need for purity, … a need to let go of she developed a musical language imbued the tumults of life, to soothe myself.” She with spiritual resonance and harmonic purity composed Langsam in 1994, near the end of that puts her in a class with the Europe’s so- her post-graduate studies, and this transitional called “holy minimalists,” including Estonia’s work exhibits both aspects of her musical Arvo Pärt and ’s Henryk Gorecki. personality, forming an organic arc that Championed on both sides of the Atlantic navigates from pure triads at the beginning and end through surprising harmonic by the likes of violinist and the collisions during a thick climax. Taking its title , Poleva stands as a leader from the German tempo marking that means among Ukrainian composers today. “slowly,” this expansive slow movement brings Describing the break between her early and to mind the spiritual yearnings that Gustav mature styles in an interview with the journal Mahler channeled into his symphonies a Music & Literature, Poleva explained, “I wrote century earlier.

Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 107 [1959] DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Born September 25, 1906 in , Died August 9 , 1975 in , Born in Saint Petersburg in the twilight of the 1948, and he learned to bury any controversial Russian Empire, Dmitri Shostakovich came of tendencies in his music under a veneer of age during the early years of the Soviet Union. state-sanctioned approachability and realism. He entered the Petrograd Conservatory Still, even after the grip on Soviet artists at the age of 13, excelled in his and loosened slightly following Stalin’s death in composition studies (while also working on the 1953, Shostakovich never fully shed the self- side as a piano accompanist for silent films), protective cloak that had become integral to and graduated from the renamed Leningrad his musical expression. Conservatory at 19. Performances of his First Shostakovich composed the First Cello Symphony made him a star, and he was riding Concerto in 1959 for the cellist Mstislav high as the top Soviet composer before his Rostropovich, sixteen years after they first 30th birthday. Then everything changed when met when the teenaged Rostropovich Joseph Stalin walked out of Shostakovich’s enrolled in Shostakovich’s composition class new opera in 1936, and an official party at the . After debuting newspaper delivered a frightening critique the concerto together in Leningrad, they warning that such “formalist” music amounted traveled to in 1960 for a momentous to “a game of clever ingenuity that may end international premiere. (One stunned witness very badly.” was the English composer , Shostakovich rebounded from that sobering who struck up lasting friendships with both rebuke as well as a second crackdown in ). Shostakovich went on to write a NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF UKRAINE second concerto for the cellist in 1966, and No. 1 is a cheeky Allegretto built around after Rostropovich’s exile from the Soviet a distinctive four-note motive. Those four Union in 1974, he remained a powerful notes also return at crucial points later in the advocate for Shostakovich in the West, both work, which travels through a somber slow on the cello and from the conductor’s podium. movement and an extended solo cadenza The first movement of the Cello Concerto before reaching the thunderous finale.

Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120 ROBERT SCHUMANN Born June 8, 1810 in Zwickau, Died July 29, 1856 in Endenich, Germany The Symphony No. 4 in D Minor that that enter after the initial thematic statement Schumann worked on late in 1851 was actually reveal this movement’s kinship to the opening a revision of a work he had composed a introduction. decade earlier as his Second Symphony. 1841 When the Romanze closes softly on a had been the year of Schumann’s symphonic dangling chord, it prepares the leap up to breakthrough, but he saw fit to revise much start the Scherzo. That ascending jump of the orchestral music from that year, such as continues as a central motive in this rollicking the “Symphonette” that became the Overture, third movement, answered by distinctive Scherzo and Finale, and the one-movement downward leaps on off-beats. The Scherzo’s Fantasy for piano and orchestra that grew into central section has the dancing around the Piano Concerto. a languorous melody, an idea recycled from In its original form, the D-minor Symphony the middle of the Romanze. was a marvel of interconnectedness and An abbreviated slow section provides a ramp unification, but in the 1851 revision Schumann directly to the finale, which commences went even further by linking the movements its festive music with three chords that are together without pauses and reorganzing familiar from the first movement, but now some of the motives. The 1851 edition has recast in D major. After so much taut and become the standard choice for performance, interwoven music, this movement adds a but the original version has had its champions dose of reckless exuberance, with thundering over the years, including Brahms, who insisted brass, crescendos resembling Hollywood on publishing it in 1891. sound effects, and an accelerated ending. The symphony begins with an introduction of Not long after his revision of this symphony, long-held tones and slow-spinning melodies Schumann’s perenially fragile mental health that build tension like a coil preparing to spring. began to falter once again, until he was With a taste of the music to come, a gradual eventually forced out of his conducting job. quickening leads smoothly to the Lebhaft After throwing himself into the Rhine River (lively) section and its kinetic theme in D minor. in a suicide attempt in 1854, Schumann lived The slow Romanze extends the continuity, out his remaining years in an insane asylum, emerging out of the first-movement’s final where he died at the age of 46, leaving this cadence and subtly migrating to a new home symphony as his last entry in a genre he key. The sustained tones and stepwise melody reinvigorated for the generations to come.

© 2019 Aaron Grad Sunday, February 16, 2020 NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF UKRAINE Biography Formed by the Council of Ministers of Ukraine other beautifully – as would the greatest of in November of 1918, the National Symphony the world’s symphony .” Orchestra of Ukraine is considered to be Since 1993, the NSOU has released more one of the finest symphony orchestras in than 100 sound recordings which include Eastern Europe. Its first conductor was both Ukrainian and international repertoires. Oleksander Horilyj. Natan Rachlin was Most of these recordings have received the the Artistic Director of the Orchestra highest international acclaim. In 1994, the from 1937 until 1962. Stefan Turchak, Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) rated Volodymyr Kozhuchar, Fedir Hlushchenko, NSOU’s recording of Boris Lyatoshynsky’s Igor Blazhkov and Theodore Kuchar Symphonies No. 2 and No. 3 as “The Best consequently conducted the Orchestra as Recording of the Year.” The CD of Silvestrov’s its Principal Conductors. Other conductors “Requiem for Larissa” was nominated for a who worked with the NSOU include Leopold Grammy Award in 2005. The CD of Bloch and Stokowski, Igor Markevitch, Kurt Sanderling, Lees’ Concertos was nominated for a Evgeny Mravinsky, Kiril Kondrashin, Evgeny Grammy Award four years later. Svetlanov, and Gennady Rozhdestvensky. The NSOU has performed in successful concert Soloists who performed with the NSOU tours throughout Australia, Austria, Bahrain, include Artur Rubinstein, , Belgium, Belarus, China, the Czech Republic, , , Sviatoslav Denmark, France, Germany, England, Hong Richter, , , Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Leonid Kogan, Gidon Kremer, OlehKrysa, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Monserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, and Juan Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, and the Diego Flores. United Arab Emirates. The NSOU was entrusted with the premier “... A program rich with energy and unusually performances of the works of the following adventurous placed the National Symphony composers: Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shosta- Orchestra of Ukraine in a highly favourable kovich, Aram Khatchaturian, Boris Lyatoshy- light when it gave its only Sydney concert nsky, , , during its Australian tour on Friday. This is and Evgen Stankovych. an orchestra with many virtues. Its strings The Orchestra has gained international can conjure up a vibrant songfulness; recognition over a remarkably short period of the woodwinds have a fruity, penetrating time. After an appearance in Moscow, Dmitri ripeness; the brass could endanger the walls Shostakovich commented: “This orchestra of Jericho; the percussion might wake the has as distinguished a group of performers dead...” - The Sydney Morning Herald as one would be likely to find anywhere. The Since April of 1999, Volodymyr Sirenko ensemble of the orchestra is of the highest has been the Artistic Director and Chief level. In addition, the various soloists and Conductor of the NSOU. Since June of 2006, instrumental groups within the Orchestra Alexander Hornostai has been its Managing play exceptionally and complement each Director and Producer.

VOLODYMYR SIRENKO Conductor Born in the Poltava region of Ukraine, His conducting debut took place at the Volodymyr Sirenko has been compared Kyiv Philharmonic Hall in 1983 with works by the international press to other brilliant by Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Boulez. conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen and In 1989 Sirenko graduated from the Kyiv . Conservatoire where he studied conducting NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF UKRAINE under Prof. Allin Vlasenko. In 1990, he was Lebanon, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, a finalist at the International Conducting Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, the United Competition in . A year later, he was Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the appointed as Chief Conductor and Artistic United States of America. He has worked with Director of the Ukrainian Radio Symphony many international orchestras including the Orchestra, a position which he held until Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow 1999. During this period he made over and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Sinfonia 300 recordings that are kept in the funds Warsovia, NOSPR (Katowice), the Svetlanov of the Ukrainian Radio and include Mozart Symphony Orchestra, the Bratislava Radio Symphonies Nos. 38 and 41, Beethoven Symphony, the Jerusalem Symphony Symphony No. 9, Brahms A German Requiem, Orchestra, the National Philharmonic of Rachmaninov Bells, Dvorak Symphonies Russia, the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Nos. 7 and 9. Sirenko has appeared in numerous From 1999 he is the Artistic Director and concert halls around the world, including Chief Conductor of the National Symphony Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Brucknerhaus Orchestra of Ukraine. Highlights among (Linz), Barbican Hall and Cadogan Hall hundreds of programmes that he has (London), Theatre des Champs-Elysees and performed with the orchestra since then were Opera Comique (), Seoul Art Center, Palau de la Musica in Valencia and Centro cycles Complete Symphonies, Manuel de Falla in Granada, Filharmonia Bach all four Passions and Mass in B Minor, Narodowa (Warsaw), the Great Hall of Lyatoshynsky Complete Symphonies. Moscow Conservatory and the Great Hall He recorded over 50 compact discs and the of St. Petersburg Philharmonia, the Roy CD of Silvestrov's Requiem for Larissa was Thomson Hall (Toronto), the Tokyo City Opera nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005. and the Osaka Symphony Hall. He premiered many works by Ukrainian Volodymyr Sirenko is a Peopleʼs Artist of composers including Silvestrovʼs Symphonies Ukraine and laureate of the No. 7 and 8, Stankovych's Symphony No. 6. National Prize, Ukraine’s most prestigious Sirenko has toured Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, award. He is Professor of the opera and Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, symphonic conducting at the National Music Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Academy of Ukraine.

NATALIA KHOMA Cellist Natalia Khoma is an internationally renowned The first and only Ukrainian cellist to become cellist. Since winning First Prize at the a laureate of the Tchaikovsky Competition, Lysenko Cello Competition, Khoma has won Natalia Khoma has since distinguished herself top prizes at the Budapest as a recitalist and soloist with orchestras International Competition, Markneukirchen throughout Russia, as well as the U.S., Competition in Germany, and the Tchaikovsky Canada, South America, Germany, Norway, International Competition in Moscow, as well Belgium, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, as First Prize at the Belgrade International Eastern Europe, South Africa and the Middle Cello Competition. and Far East. A native of , Ukraine, Ms. Khoma studied She has performed as a soloist with such at Solomia Krushelnytska School for gifted leading ensembles as the Berlin Radio children with Evhen Shpitzer, at the Moscow Orchestra, Moscow , Conservatory with Natalia Shakhovskaya Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, Budapest and in the United States, received an Artist Philharmonic Orchestra, Ukrainian National Diploma from Boston University under the State Symphony Orchestra, Johannesburg direction of Leslie Parnas. Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Ensemble Sunday, February 16, 2020 of New York City Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Advisor of the Music and Art Center Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra and has had of Greene County, New York. solo recitals in Tchaikovsky Hall (Moscow), Natalia Khoma is an Honorary Professor Carnegie Hall (New York), Jordan Hall of Lviv State Academy of Music, Odesa (Boston), Schauspielhaus (Berlin), Palais des State Music Academy and Tchaikovsky Beux Arts (),Amphitheatre Richelieu National Music Academy of Ukraine (Kyiv de la Sorbonne, Salons de Boffrand de la Conservatory). Presidence du Senat (Paris), Philharmonic Big Hall of Columns (Kyiv) and in a host of In 2010 Natalia was featured on a Grammy countries across the globe. She is often nominated CD for the Dorian Sono Luminus invited to appear at international festivals label. She has also recorded for NHK-TV in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Canada, (Japan), Naxos, TNC/Cambria, Blue Griffin, Ukraine and the U.S. among others. IMP, Dorian, Centaur and Ongaku labels, as well as for Ukrainian, Russian, German, Natalia Khoma has been hailed around the Spanish, Serbian, Israeli and Hungarian world as “technically dazzling”, “intense, Radio and Television and has appeared on brilliant, and with perfect structure”. She WNYC-FM in New York, WGBH-FM in Boston also has been praised for “the precision of and CKWR in Ontario (Canada). her executions, Slavic Zen, full warm cello tone….and, what a drive!” Natalia made her For several years she played on a famous first public appearance on TV at age ten and Stradivarius cello. performed her first concerto with orchestra In addition to her performing activities, at age thirteen. Natalia is an Associate Professor of Cello at Ms. Khoma has been a professor at the the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC in Ukraine, Roosevelt and Director of the Charleston Music Fest. University College of Music in Chicago, Natalia serves as organizer of the Children Michigan State University and was a visiting and Music Foundation, which provides professor of the University of Connecticut musical training, instruments and financial aid School of Music. In 2011 she was appointed to young, gifted Ukrainian students in need.

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Volodymyr Sirenko, Conductor FIRST VIOLIN Oleg Lytvynenko Tetiana Pavlova Maksym Grinchenko, Viktoriia Trach Vasyl Bakalov Concertmaster Svitlana Markiv Olena Litovchenko Markiyan Hudziy, Kateryna Kurysheva Liudmyla Guliei Principal Associate Concertmaster SECOND VIOLIN VIOLA Vitalii Lieonov, Halyna Hornostai, Oleksandr Pohoryelov, Associate Concertmaster Principal Principal Sviatoslava Semchuk Valentyna Petrychenko Galyna Nemeczek Olena Pushkarska Viktoriya Ganapolska Viktor Navrodskyi Oleksandra Vasylieva Andriy Mazko Oleg Trunov Roman Poltavets Oleksii Sechen Orest Krysa Oksana Kot Ganna Fedchenko Volodymyr Ponomarov Olena Poltavets Valentyna Voskresenska Mariia Lukashevych Valery Kuzik Arsenii Poltavets Vira Ampilohova Evgeniya Sirenko Galyna Bilych Maksym Bakeiev Bogdan Krysa Tetiana Nikonenko Olha Andriienko Olga Mykhailiuk Nadiya Novikova Bogdan Fesiuk NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF UKRAINE

CELLO Olena Ikaieva, Hennakii Kot, Oleksii Li, Principal Principal Principal Liliia Demberg Yurii Litun Oleksiy Kobzist Andrii Aleksandrov Viktor Mishchenko Tetiana Miastkovska PERCUSSION Vira Kornilova Dmytro Ulianov, Serhii Vakulenko Yurii Nabytovych, Principal Ihor Yarmus Principal Danylo Shuryhin Yevhen Skyrpka Pavlo Boiko Yevhen Ulianov Olena Dvorska Viktor Hornostai Hennadii Khlopotov Nataliia Subbotina Petro Zabolotnyi Stanislav Ulianov Mariia Mohylevska Oleg Sokolov DOUBLE BASS Taras Osadchyi, MANAGING DIRECTOR Volodymyr Grechukh, Principal Aleksandr Hornostai Principal Oleksiiy Emelianov Oleksandr Neshchadym Ihor Nechesnyi INSPECTOR Oleksandra Chaikina Volodymyr Antoshyn Georgii Orobinskyi Taras Butko Volodymyr Kaveshnikov HORN STAGE MANAGER Dmytro Golovach Andrii Shkil, Elmar Orro Taras Pivniak Principal Oleksandr Yuzviak Stepan Bebykh COLUMBIA ARTISTS Kostiantyn Sokol MANAGEMENT LLC. HARP Valentyn Marukhno Tour Direction: Nataliia Izmailova, Borys Rudniev Karen Kloster, Principal Yuliia Shevchenko Tour Coordinator Yaroslavan Ekliaieva Emilia K. Albarano, KEYBOARD Iurii Kornilov, Executive Assistant Olena Protopopova Principal Mykhailo Holovin Renee O’Banks, FLUTE Viktor Davydenko Tour Manager Myroslava Sirenko, Dmytro Kovalchuk Principal Oleksandr Rehubov James Putnam, Ihory Ermak Driver Mykola Mykytei Larysa Plotnikova Andrii Holovko, DebCo Travel Consulting, Principal Hotels Danylo Sydorov Renat Imametdinov Andrii Zymenko