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The Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra (Photo credit: Gaëtan Bally)

International Orchestras Dedicate Their Performances to Ukrainians

 

On March 23 and 24, 2022, Paavo Järvi, chief conductor of Switzerland’s Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, will be conducting a benefit concert dedicated to those in Ukraine persevering from Russia’s attacks.

The program will include pieces by John Adams, including Lollapalooza, My Father Knew Charles Ives, and I Still Dance. Violinist Leonidas Kavakos will also be featured, performing Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in E minor.

Similarly, the Berlin Philharmonic and Berlin Radio Choir, conductor Gustavo Dudamel and soloists, singers Nadine Sierra and Okka von der Damerau, will be dedicating their concerts this week with Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 to those in Ukraine.

“We are deeply shocked by the attacks from the Russian side, which have triggered a war on European soil and are targeted directly against a life in freedom and democracy,” stated Andrea Zietzschmann, Knut Weber and Stanley Dodds for the Board of the Berlin Philharmonic Foundation. “Our solidarity is with all the people of Ukraine and the victims of this violent conflict.”

As reported by ABC, conductor Ricardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony’s performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 was one of the first to be dedicated to the people of Ukraine, taking place on the same day that Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. 

“We cannot play this symphony, dedicated to the joy and brotherhood, without thinking [of] the sufferings of the people of Ukraine…We make music that means joy and peace. But...we will think in this moment that joy without peace cannot exist,” said Muti in a segment of his address to the audience ahead of the concert. 

“I hope that from this wonderful hall, from the orchestra, from the chorus, from you, a message should arrive to all the people, not only in Ukraine but in the world, are creating violence hate and [a] strange need for war, we are against all that,” he added.

 

 

Leonidas Kavakos also recently conducted the Philharmonique de Radio France, where he is artist-in-residence, in a concert dedicated to Ukraine. The program involved Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with Emanuel Ax as the soloist. 

“It is not possible to make music with joy while people are being killed or losing loved ones and their lives," Kavakos wrote on Instagram. "Before the concert, I communicated to the audience a few thoughts which I want to share with all of you: 

‘Music is the starting point of a personal spiritual journey. Concert halls during concerts are places of unconditional communion in which, through the great composers' works we celebrate Human spirit. In the shadow of current events in Ukraine we would like to dedicate tonight's concert to all the victims and those who are suffering in Ukraine.’”

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Leonidas Kavakos (@lkavakos)

 

“In the last days we’ve been watching a horrible act of aggression against Ukraine's sovereignty and its people,” Kavakos also posted on Facebook. “It is really hard to imagine that while still trying to find our way out of a pandemic that has caused enormous loss of human lives as well as a very serious economical and psychological wound to the world,” he continued.

“After dedicating the concert in Paris with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France to the victims in Ukraine and all the people who have been forced to leave their homes and families, I want to condemn the repulsive act of war of Russia against Ukraine from this platform as well! Several countries are escalating their reaction and sanctions, which is a message that brings hope.”

 

 

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