The concert turned out to be unusual: it was organized to support a talented pianist, student of Kyiv’s Lysenko Special Secondary Music School Yevhen Motorenko. This young musician (in his 13 he is a winner of many international competitions) has suffered a double fracture of arm, which has put his professional future at risk.
The concert was organized by the Artistic Foundation “Nashe” (Ours), which takes care of young Ukrainian musicians by giving scholarships and grants. In particular, with the assistance of the foundation Motorenko has decently represented Ukraine at international competitions: his most recent victories include the highest awards in Poland and Lithuania.
Another facet of Valentyn Sylvestrov’s personality – nobleness and care about people in trouble – has revealed itself once again. The outstanding composer was among the first people to respond to the dramatic situation in which his young colleague found himself. Incidentally, the tradition of musicians’ solidarity has a long history. For example, Georg Frideric Handel’s charity activity is a well-known fact: he was among those who established in London Royal Society of Musicians. Although his financial state was rather poor at that time, the author of Messiah made donations and organized charity concerts to help poor musicians. Founded in 1738, this foundation still continues to fulfill its noble cause.
Ukraine’s leading musicians, well-known soloists Bohdana Pivnenko, Inna Halatenko, Roman Riepka, and the National Ensemble of Soloists “Kyivska kamerata” headed by Valerii Matiukhin, have also volunteered to support Zhenia Motorenko. Matiukhin performed in the concert as a director and pianist. The teachers and students of Zhenia’s school have also joined the cause, above all his pedagogue, a well-known teacher of talented pianists, Professor Natalia Hridnieva.
Music and charity made a strange combination that night. The crowded hall proved the audience’s devotion to art and at the same compassion and desire to help. Of course, most of them were drawn by the magic of Sylvestrov’s music world. Full of strength, in spite of his elderly age, the composer presents us with new moments of beauty and harmony. Ten songs from his most recent works have been performed: namely this genre is a chosen one in Sylvestrov’s creative work. Sylvestrov’s sung poetry seems to continue the harmony of the word and music of his favorite composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, and Pyotr Tchaikovsky.
The premieres of songs which use the verse by Nikolai Nekrasov, Afanasii Fet, Pavlo Tychyna, Borys Oliinyk were performed by wonderful musicians, Inna Halatenko and pianist Roman Riepka. And again Valentyn Sylvestrov turned also to the poetry which does not lie on reader’s shelves, specifically the texts of Austrian writer Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach and Ukrainian poet Leonid Kyseliov, who, regrettably, died at the age of 22. The performance of the song Lullaby to the unknown poem by Fyodor Tyutchev was a sensational discovery in a sense. As it turned out, the manuscript of this poem and several other poems of this poet for a long time have been kept in a Siberian camp, by a representative of intelligentsia, imprisoned for “disloyalty.” Tyutchev wrote these poems down in an album of a charming woman, later they got into hands of the abovementioned “disloyal” person. When he was released, the owner of the rare manuscript gave it to the well-known Russian composer Oleksandr Knaifel. Knaifel showed the precious finding to his Ukrainian colleague and old friend Valentyn Sylvestrov. This is the way Tyutchev’s unknown masterpiece revealed itself via Sylvestrov’s Lullaby.
“The Moments of Poetry and Music” (this is the title of the performed works) was continued by cello solo dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach, music for a string orchestra (Hymn-2001) Melodies of Moments for violin and piano. But this time the harmony of music and poetry was supplemented by artistic images. The visual arrangement of the stage designed by well-known Ukrainian artist Zinaida Likhachova, turned out to go harmoniously with Sylvestrov’s music. And the refined elegance of the concert outfits of the soloists – Bohdana Pivnenko and Inna Halatenko – supplemented the noble tonality of the whole soiree. Zinaida Likhachova, one of the organizers wanted to express with The Day’s help “her gratitude to all those who helped and simply was present at Valentyn Sylvestrov’s concert.”
Zhenia Motorenko was by far the most attentive listener of Sylvestrov’s music. He has something in common in his appearance with the silhouette of the legendary virtuoso pianist Anton Rubinstein. Beyond doubt, Zhenia was touched by attention, kindness, and nobleness which surrounded him and all people present that evening. Namely these features are impossible to be measured by any charity donations.
