Musicians of the Moscow Virtuosi chamber orchestra and its artistic director and chief conductor, People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Spivakov performed in Gomel. The concert, which took place as part of the V International Festival «Vladimir Spivakov invites», was a full house event long before it began.

The hall was welcomed by the maestro standing up. The audience enthusiastically caught every movement of the idol, his look and smile. And there was instant silence, a turn to the musicians. There is no conductor’s desk, neither is the score, but with the first swing of the wand comes the understanding that genius does not have to check the notes. The symphony in D Minor by the great Italian cellist Luigi Boccherini sounded.

A work of «gallant style» wanted to be listened to endlessly, so light, so clean and the calls were fascinating curls of passages in a transparent orchestral polyphony. It seemed that the conductor himself and soloists were no less fascinated by the beauty and richness of musical material. The maestro’s movements – then decisive, fast, sparkling and playful, then ingratiating and smoothly thoughtful – were accompanied by his smiles and mimicry appeals to the orchestra, causing a reaction. All of this elegant «communication» of the team, unique in its playfulness, was watched with visible pleasure by spectators.

It seemed that the artists in the minutes of the game even breathe in unison. And if they sigh, they sigh so masterfully and expressively that the hall, without conspiring, intuitively picks up on them and gets into the game. This was the case with «Little Daneliade» by Georgian composer Giya Kancheli. This small but extremely entertaining work was rich in sound diversity and was presented with brilliant virtuosity. The last long sigh of «U-u-u-u-u…» rushed around the hall, and the play ended with the conductor’s smile and furious «bravo» cries. No one could contain his emotions: listeners applauded, musicians applauded, and students from Gomel music schools and the Sokolovsky College of Arts applauded, to whom part of the stage at the curtain was given. It is worth saying that «Moscow Virtuosi» in Belarus as well does not retreat from a long and good tradition of inviting young talented children to their performances.

The works of Dmitry Shostakovich are often included in the orchestra’s performance programmes. This time the Gomel residents heard the chamber symphony «In Memory of the Victims of Fascism and War». The powerful and solemnly sad work, performed by the Virtuosi, was understandable and close even to those who heard it for the first time. The horror and cruelty endured by people, the sense of ruthlessness of the most terrible and destructive war of the twentieth century were clearly seen in the tragic notes. The impression of what was heard was so strong that with the final sounds of the symphony, none of the spectators dared to break the intense silence. A shy clap – and a barrage of applause fell on the performers.

Probably no other composer sounds as brilliant, inspired and as magnetically as Mozart in the performance of the famous orchestra. Melomans were waiting for Mozart, and his divertissement built up with unspeakable ease, elegance and wit. The combination of crystal clarity of musical forms and the subtlety of emotional nuances fascinated and charged him with a special positive attitude. The maestro thanked the hall for his rapturous applause, shook hands with the soloists of the orchestra and led them to the ramp, emphasising that without any of them such a masterful performance was impossible.

Four violinists – Vitaly Khandras, Alexei Lundin, Evgeny Shulkov and Alexei Strelnikov – performed the solo in Astor Piazzolla’s suite History of the Tango. Each of them, possessing a unique manner of performance and temperament, not conflicting but complementing each other, «told» about the Argentine tango, its passion, elegance and sophistication. We can say that in this issue Piazzolla’s dream came true – his tango is played by one of the world’s best orchestras.

Farewell to the «Virtuosi» was spiced up by two short popular plays by Shostakovich and Mozart. One and a half or two minutes of feeling a miracle – and the hall stands in a single gust. Maestro Spivakov and his musicians say goodbye, taking with them the warmth of the hearts and love of the audience.

«Sometimes I feel like I wrote the music myself».

Before the concert, I managed to talk to Vladimir Spivakov.

— Vladimir Teodorovich, do you plan to perform as a violinist at this concert? If so, who will conduct the orchestra?

— The day before it happened that I hurt my hand (the maestro showed me his palm – author’s note) and I won’t be able to play. In those moments when I solo, the orchestra does not need a conductor, the professionalism of the musicians allows them to play at the same high level.

— Your festival opens the names of new young artists and musicians. What is it for them to perform together with you on the same stage? Could this be the start of a career?

— Not a start, but help.

— From which worlds does the bird of inspiration come to you?

— If we are talking about inspiration, then of course music is an incredible energy substance. It has everything you need for life and creativity.

— To understand music, does one have to be prepared?

— Not required. But better yet, yes. Although Maya Plisetskaya once said: «If you let an aborigine into a museum, he will first approach a masterpiece». A person always feels quality in art intuitively.

— How do you evaluate the skills of Belarusian musicians, your colleagues?

— You have excellent orchestras and musicians have excellent professional training and a high level of education. In Belarus, the school of wind instruments is traditionally strong, which used to be a problem in the Soviet Union. But, unfortunately, artists do not always have good musical instruments.

— Do you have to be a perfectionist to reach professional heights? Or is it enough to have a positive attitude and faith in yourself? Who has a better chance?

— It’s hard to break everything down into shelves, as it’s impossible to be absolutely sure of everything and of yourself. Man is a fragile creature. His strength is in hope.

— Can hope arise from suffering, from experiences?

— Of course. Suffering hardens to a certain extent.

— Last year’s sad event was the departure of Dmitry Khvorostovsky. What was he to you?

— A friend, a colleague, a wonderful person and an artist. Together with other famous artists, I am working on a foundation to support his children. It is very important that they get a good education.

— The final day of the festival «Vladimir Spivakov invites» will bring an unprecedented spectacle – on the stage of the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre will perform the National Ballet of Marseille with the program «Corps». Why this company?

— You need something fresh all the time. Art is beautiful with its variety. This performance is a modern reading of life. I myself am very fond of contemporary art, the work of nonconformist artists, I collect it. Most of the collection is in the Moscow International House of Music, where I have been president for 15 years: I believe that apart from memories, there should be something material left.

— How do you perceive the music you play yourself?

— Sometimes I feel like I wrote it myself. I am very close to the words of Evgeny Svetlanov, a famous conductor and composer, who said: «Sometimes it seems that the spirit of Rachmaninoff has infused me».

Alexei Gerasimenko, Natalia Rudeva