Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Cultural dialogs: Latvia – Ukraine

Gidon KREMER: “The artists have a task to encourage everyone to take responsibility of the events unfolding”
27 April, 2015 - 18:03
Photo by Mykola TYMCHENKO, The Day

On the occasion of Latvian presidency in the Council of the European Union, several events (including lectures, discussions, exhibitions, and concerts) will take place in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Lviv, with the support of the Embassy of Latvia in Ukraine. These events are intended to promote cultural dialog between Ukraine and Latvia. For instance, the main event in Odesa is the “Confrontations between Two Worlds” concert of Kremerata Baltica, chamber ensemble of Gidon Kremer, which will take place on April 24 in Odesa Opera and Ballet Theater. The program will feature the works by the contemporary Latvian composer himself, as well as the music by various Ukrainian and Russian authors accompanied with the visual images developed by Maksym Kantor, artist and writer. According to i-pro.kiev.ua website, the presentation of this original audiovisual project was held in Klaipeda, Lithuania. The second performance took place in Milan, and the event in Odesa will become the third. The musical works on the concert will also include Fratres by Arvo Part; Flowering Jasmine, Concerto for violin, vibraphone, and strings by Georgs Pelecis; Souvenir de Florence by Pyotr Tchaikovsky; the works by Valentyn Sylvestrov and other famous composers.

As Gidon Kremer mentioned at the press conference, “the program is not intended for entertainment, instead it is meant to bring up the responsibility each of us has for all the events that happen around us. The musicians, being artists, raise questions and call for participation and compassion. Indifference is the most dangerous human disease.” In addition, Kremer is happy to visit Odesa, as this was the hometown of his teacher, David Oistrakh.

By Tetiana POLISHCHUK, The Day
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