Unusually, this year’s festival will feature the celebrations of the 140th birth anniversary of prominent musical figure, composer, teacher, conductor, and director of the Kyiv Conservatory in 1914-20 Rheinhold Gliere; the 120th birth anniversary of classical 20th century Ukrainian musician Borys Liatoshynsky, who was Gliere’s student; the 125th birth anniversary of famous Ukrainian composer Lev Revutsky (another Gliere’s student); and the 70th birth anniversary of famous Ukrainian composer, teacher, musical figure Ivan Karabyts (Liatoshynsky’s student).
This accumulation of anniversaries inspired Gliere’s spiritual heirs to try a new way of holding the event, which will involve holding “a festival inside the festival,” called the “Spiritual Springs of Ukraine.” Its program will feature a musical artifact, the First Symphony by Sergei Prokofiev, which was found by famous conductor Kyryl Karabyts. This symphony was written 10 years before the creation of the well-known Classical Symphony No. 1 (1917). The manuscript bears the young Prokofiev’s hand-written dedication: “For my dear teacher Rheinhold Gliere.” The festival’s program will include the world premiere of this youthful symphony, to be held under the direction of Kyryl Karabyts, with Gliere’s descendants invited to the show.
The 21st Shevchenko March Festival will expand its range of partners, including by establishing a close cooperation with the Spiritual Treasures of Ukraine Museum. Its exhibition combines ancient relics with colorful products of the modern age. Gliere’s spiritual heirs will use the museum’s hall to demonstrate new approaches to content, scale, and architecture of the concert, which will feature four bands, a string ensemble, two choirs, soloists, and ensembles of small forms.
The forum will end with a performance by soloists and creative groups of the Gliere Kyiv Institute of Music, to be held at the National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine on March 25.
