CLASSIC MUSIC EVENING "GORGEOUS RUSSIA" HELD IN THE FRAME OF THE ARTS FESTIVAL IN ABU DHABI. VIRTUOZ VIOLINS BY MAXIM WENGEROV AND THE ORCHESTRA OF THE ST.PETERSBURG ACADEMIC PHILHARMONY UNDER THE MAESTRO YURI TEMIRKANOVA WERE PERFORMED TO THE ATTENTION.
The famous Russian violinist Maxim Vengerov for one evening became the soloist of the country's oldest classical ensemble - the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Yuri Temirkanov. A creative evening called “Magnificent Russia” took place on the stage of the concert hall of the Emirates Palace hotel as part of the annual art festival in Abu Dhabi. The program included works by P.I. Tchaikovsky and J. Rossini.
The world famous conductor Yuri Temirkanov began the concert with an overture from the opera The Barber of Seville, which was replaced by the immortal works of the great Russian composer. UN Goodwill Ambassador Maxim Vengerov performed melodies from the Concert for violin and orchestra and Symphony No. 4 in F minor Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Commenting on the results of the concert, Mrs. Huda Al Khamis Kanu, creative director and founder of the Abu Dhabi Festival, said: “This evening we saw how great Russia's contribution to the preservation of world classical art was. We felt a real“ cultural connection. ”I will no doubt express the general opinion of the audience is that the virtuoso play of musicians in combination with magnificent works of classics is truly mesmerizing. "
A true devotee of musical education, Maxim Vengerov during his stay in the capital of the United Arab Emirates took part in a meeting with local students as part of the Back to School with Mubadala initiative. He visited the GEMS International School of Art, where he taught talented children a master class in violin playing. According to Vengerov himself, "music is necessary for the development of children whose potential is unlimited."
On the eve of this concert, our correspondent managed to meet and talk with Maxim Vengerov, a representative of a young school of classical musicians, and with Yuri Temiraknov, a famous master recognized throughout the world. We bring to your attention the recordings of these conversations ...
Violinist virtuoso Maxim Vengerov
Maxim, please tell me how you felt when you became a participant in the Abu Dhabi Arts Festival? You have performed at many leading concert venues in the world, what are your impressions of the UAE?
I first came to the Arabian Peninsula. Therefore, in addition to the fact that it is a great honor for me to be invited to the Abu Dhabi Arts Festival, it is also a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the culture and traditions of the United Arab Emirates, with the sights of this country.
I must say that here is a wonderful festival that promotes not only oriental, but also classical western music. This, of course, is a revolutionary approach for such a young, but rapidly developing country. Music is a universal concept. She is God, and He is one for all, although many religions exist in the world. For me, music is an international language, akin to Esperanto, understandable to everyone. All people can communicate with each other, understand each other through the harmony of musical works, through sound.
At the opening of the festival, a wonderful show was performed by the wonderful Anushka Shankar from India. Maestro Yuri Temirkanov and I will perform classical works, including music by P.I. Tchaikovsky. This will be a completely new experience for the local audience. Further, the festival program includes performers from all over the world - Turkey, Great Britain, Syria, Lebanon and many others. And this will be a different experience. In a word, I am very glad that I am here and take part in the festival.
You are a well-known violinist, engaged in teaching and trying on the profession of conductor. What does working with such a great conductor of our time as Yuri Temirkanov mean to you?
Maestro Temirkanov is a representative of the greatest school of conducting art by Ilya Musin, with whom I am very familiar. My first conducting teacher was Vag Papyan, who comes from the same school. With Yuri Khatuevich Temirkanov I played my very first concert in the West - in Amsterdam. I was only twelve and a half years old. The last time we met and played music about ten years ago in London. So now for me it is a very exciting event. Here we will play P.I. Tchaikovsky. Moreover, right after the performance in Abu Dhabi, we in the same lineup, a day later, will give a concert in London, in the Barbican Hall, where we will play the first concert for violin and orchestra by Sergei Prokofiev.
You have a very busy program, and, nevertheless, in addition to rehearsals, where have you already visited, what to see?
Being here for three days, I feel excitement and awe before meeting with the audience of the Emirates. The organization of this festival is absolutely phenomenal. And the point here is not even in the technical side, in everything one feels a personal approach, a kind of soulfulness.
Whatever you say, this is the Middle East, and here you can learn a lot - hospitality and true friendliness, not superficial, but open and very sincere. It really impresses me. The Emirates Palace Hotel has a beautiful concert hall. I think many musicians would like to perform on his stage.
As for what I’ve seen, since I really have little time, I try to visit the most outstanding sights. My parents flew with me to the UAE, so we all together managed to visit the largest mosque in the Emirates named after Sheikh Zayed. This is just an amazing building! Incredible in its beauty and grace. Of course, I could not see much else, but I hope that we will have little time to explore the city. True, I visited the Gems Academy Center, where I held a small master class for children aged 5 to 9 years. It was very nice!
Maxim, you work a lot with children, you were one of the first and still are the UNISEF ambassador, conduct active concert activities, teach. Do you have free time?
I do not even know. I strive to be in time, if not all, then a lot. Prior to arriving in the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Stuttsker and I were at the Cleveland Clinic, where I gave a lecture on "Music and Music Therapy." At one time I was very closely involved in this problem, and now it was very interesting for me to get acquainted with new practices of using music in the treatment of sick children. Here in Abu Dhabi I visited the branch of this clinic. And I, really, really enjoy the fact that in the UAE people pay a lot of attention to a variety of, even non-traditional, methods of healing and recovery. The inhabitants of this country seemed to me searching and caring people.
A large Russian-speaking diaspora lives in the United Arab Emirates, and many immigrants from Russia and the CIS countries will not only be happy to come to your concert, but will also be proud to tell others about it. Would you like to wish something to your compatriots?
First of all, I can say that I envy a little our people living in such a beautiful, wonderful country. The UAE is a highly developed Middle Eastern state, about which I have heard many pleasant reviews. Many international events are taking place here. But, it is one thing to hear about all the changes taking place in the country, another thing is to see all this personally. I was pleasantly surprised! During these short four days I received a lot of impressions and positive emotions.
The main thing I want to wish to all Russian-speaking residents of the UAE is that they, while abroad, do not lose touch with Russia. I am sure that what we are doing allows us to bring part of the great Russian culture to where we are in a given period of time. Therefore, I think that cultural interchange between West and East is extremely important today. If we turn to the long term, Russia and the Emirates demonstrate a completely revolutionary approach to cultural relations, which will certainly bear fruit for future generations.
Thanks a lot, Maxim. We look forward to your presentation.
Maestro Yuri Temirkanov
Good afternoon, Yuri Hatuevich. Allow me to welcome you to Abu Dhabi and thank you for participating in the program of the Arts Festival. What did you feel when you were invited to perform in the United Arab Emirates?
A little strange, because I first came to these parts. I was very interested to see what the United Arab Emirates is. It so happened that I’ve been almost everywhere, but never here. I have a profession that involves moving from one country to another. This region is, alas, a mystery to me. I even regret that we will give only one concert here, and not two or three. Probably, for technical reasons, this is not possible.
Maestro, you are a laureate of four USSR State Prizes. Please tell me how it works for you in present-day Russia, when it was easier - in the Soviet past or the Russian present?
It seems to me that musicians in the USSR were a little easier than representatives of other genres - literature or art. Music, and in particular classical music, is something incomprehensible to the authorities. Therefore, we lived, of course, easier. Another thing is that living in the Soviet Union was disgusting. Now, since Russia is a decent country, it has become, at least, normal to be in it and work. I am happy that I have survived to this time.
On the stage of the Festival in Abu Dhabi, you will perform with violinist Maxim Vengerov. What other young musicians do you like working with?
This is not the first time we have been working with Maxim. To tell you the truth, I don’t particularly like working with very young musicians. The scene is not a circus where you can bring a 10-year-old child and say to him: "Play!" this, of course, is curious, but not serious. Real musicians, namely those who have long and seriously engaged in music, high culture, come to understand the essence of things only by the age of forty. Conductors after 50 years, as this is the profession of the second half of life. Because at first you just wave your hands on stage. And only then you begin to understand why and why you are waving. This understanding began to come to me only after 50 years. And, probably, this applies not only to music. In any profession, the depth of understanding of what is happening comes with age. But especially in music. You need to live a bit in the world to understand something. And I think that life experience is much more important than brilliant academic education. It's true.
An orchestra is a living organism. Is it difficult or simple for you to accept new musicians into your well-deserved orchestra today? How has the face of the team changed over time?
We lost a lot when the Iron Curtain fell. I survived to the point where all the best left. And when I met with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on cultural issues, I told him that the most dangerous thing is to interrupt cultural traditions and start all over again. I'm proud to say that. This is roughly what happened with Darwin's theory. If human civilization collapses, it will be necessary to begin the process of evolution again. Moreover, you know, today some scientists believe that people did not descend from monkeys, but monkeys from people. This is a new theory. That is, the branch of degraded people once turned into monkeys. Yes Yes! And this is scary.
The most dangerous thing is not even what is happening in Russia, the concept of "culture" in general is now devalued throughout the world. Because new technologies make an animal almost human - you don’t need to think, you don’t need to read, you do not need to learn the multiplication table. Therefore, humanity is becoming increasingly dull. Those who are seriously engaged in culture today, outside of television, outside of show business ... Not those who filled the television space with themselves, all these screamers. After all, it is them that the entire bulk of people perceive as representatives of "culture." And our poor children watch and think that if they show on television, this means culture. They don’t even know that Mayakovsky wrote “What is good and what is bad”. We confused our children a little. And the new generation of parents cannot explain to them the difference between “good” and “bad”, because they themselves do not understand it either. And so people all over the world are becoming more primitive. And authorities in different countries believe that culture is a kind of application ... You know how we have written in the Constitution about the allocation of funds for development, something like "money for housing and communal services and culture." Do you understand the horror?
Then, if you go back to the days of the Soviet Union, maybe it was right that all the children were taught by parents to study at music schools or dance clubs?
You know, you can’t say that clearly. After all, if we look at that period of time, then under Hitler in Germany roads were built and the unemployment rate was nullified, and under Stalin, a lot of good things were done for the country, and further under the Soviet rulers all children had the opportunity to receive free secondary education, study in music schools, attend sections and hobby groups, schools had hours of music, where children sang in chorus, there were children's pioneer camps ... But living in that country was unbearable, disgusting, disgusting! Because, after all, the Soviet people were slaves. Worse than in the Roman Empire. Because in the Roman Empire, slaves could become senators. There were such facts in history. On the other hand, Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev with three education classes became the Secretary General of the CPSU. So, I would not speak so clearly and categorically ...
You performed at various concert venues, you are known all over the world. Where do you think the most grateful audience is?
Everywhere! They accept a little differently, because there are some national features. But, in general, the audience that is related to culture in general is the same everywhere!
What do listeners expect from you coming to the concert?
Yes, God knows him. In general, you see, the slogan "art for the people" is not true. High art, this is for those who are able to feel it, who already has more gray hair in their heads. And the massive “gateway” of culture is for everyone. Because popular culture refers to instincts, and high culture - to the spirit of man. Therefore, that part of society, which is called the elite, is addressed to true art. These people treat culture as a religion. I am a person, unfortunately, an unbeliever. But just as a believer comes to the temple, and forgets about all the base, stupid, cruel, surrounding him, so is the real culture - it appeals to the person’s soul, makes him a little higher.
Communicating with foreigners and starting a conversation about Russian classics, most often you hear names like Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy ...
Well, Pushkin, probably to a lesser extent. Rather, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. The fact is that Pushkin cannot be translated. They translate words, but Pushkin’s spirit cannot be conveyed, it’s impossible ...
But if you go back to music and talk about classics, are there any composers today who can create works like Mozart, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov? Whose music would remain for centuries?
I think that there is.Gia Kancheli, Rodion Shchedrin, especially in the first half of his career ... He did a lot for the world of music. Although, in principle, I believe that God has now taken a break, having ceased to give birth to brilliant people in all areas.
What would you like to wish to our compatriots living in the UAE?
First of all, so that they do not forget Russia, even when they are here or in any other foreign country.
Thank you, maestro, for your time devoted to us and for your talent.
The Ninth Art Festival was held in Abu Dhabi from March 11 to April 6, 2012. Its program included the whole range of modern and classical art, performances by prominent representatives of the culture of our time and a large number of educational programs. His stage saw opera performances, and theatrical dramatic productions, and the work of the most prominent musicians, singers and dancers from the countries of the Near and Far East, India and many others. What a pity that such festivals, to which the legendary stars of all time come, happen only once a year! 
And yet, without offending the rest of the laureates and participants of the current Abu Dhabi Festival, I want to exclaim "Vivat, Russia!" and once again just to thank our virtuosos for the presented holiday and the happiness of contacting the beautiful, distant and near Motherland.
DEAR FRIEND
Special guests of the Art Festival in Abu Dhabi were the actors of the British Royal Opera House troupe, who for the first time in the Middle East presented the magnificent opera "Dear Friend" based on the play of the owner of several Oscars, Sir Ronald Narwood, dedicated to the history of the tender friendship of Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky and his muses, Baroness Nadezhda von Meck.
Especially in honor of this outstanding Middle East premiere, the Royal Opera House's chief executive lady June Chichester, Countess of Chichester, and Sir Vernon Ellis, head of the British Council, also the author of the play, Sir Ronald Narwood, arrived in the UAE. On the Emirate’s side, the festival’s patron was honored by the patron of the festival - Sheikh Nahayyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the UAE, and Sheikh Lubna Al Kassimi, Minister of Foreign Trade of the UAE.
The roles of Peter Tchaikovsky and Nadezhda von Meck were brilliantly performed by the stars of the British royal opera scene Simon RussellBiele and Dime Harriet Walter. The plot of the play was based on letters that Peter Tchaikovsky and Nadezhda von Meck wrote to each other all their lives. This dramatic relationship of two people was presented on the Emirate stage and is permeated with sensual string music and supported by delicious ballet performances. "This love story, passion and pain is as piercing as all the others. But this love story is not like the others in that the man and woman dissolved in her never met in their lives. They just wrote letters to each other "said Sir Ronald Narwood.
