Boris Lyatoshynsky, considered the father of Ukrainian music, was a leading composer who taught at the Kyiv Conservatory and Moscow Conservatory, and later served as an adjudicator for the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition.
Critical Reception
Valentin Silvestrov's music, particularly in his earlier radical period, was strongly criticized by Soviet officialdom and was hardly played in his native Kyiv, with premieres mainly occurring in Leningrad and the West.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Victoria Poleva, a Ukrainian composer, transitioned from avant-garde and polystylistic aesthetics to a style she calls 'sacred minimalism' from the late 1990s, focusing on spiritual themes and musical simplicity.
Composer Biography
Valentin Silvestrov, a Ukrainian composer, came to music relatively late and was initially self-taught, studying composition with Boris Lyatoshynsky at the Kyiv Conservatory from 1958 to 1964.
Historical Context
The early 20th century saw a vibrant but short-lived cultural renaissance in Ukraine, following a war of independence and a new Soviet policy of 'korenizatsiya' (putting down roots).
Historical Context
This period of cultural freedom in Ukraine ended abruptly in the late 1920s with Stalin's rise to power, leading to the repression of national music and censorship under Socialist realism.
Performer Biography
Bogdana Pivnenko, a violinist on this album, is the head of violin at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine and has premiered works by contemporary Ukrainian composers, including Valentin Silvestrov.
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