Virtuosos 44. LEHIT

Concert within the framework of the Academy of Music at the INSO-Lviv Orchestra
Principal Conductor of the Academy: Oleksandr Gordon

Artists:

• Symphony Orchestra “INSO-Lviv” of the Lviv National Philharmonic
• Oleksandr Gordon – viola, conductor (Austria–Switzerland)
• Nicolas Chalvin – conductor (France–Switzerland)

Program:

• Dmytro Bortnianskyi – Overture to the opera “The Falcon” (1768)
• Hanna Havrylets – “Signs” (2013)
• Oleksandr Rodin – Concerto for Viola and String Orchestra (2023)
• Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 “Pastoral”
• Ludwig van Beethoven – “Wellington’s Victory”, Op. 91

On the last day of spring, May 31, the Lviv National Philharmonic will be embraced by a breeze of lightness, musical narratives, inspiration, and the spirit of transformation—without which not a single day of ours is complete.
The concert “Lehit” will be the fourth installment this season of the Academy of Music of the INSO-Lviv Orchestra, and one of the highlights of this year’s edition of the International Festival of Musical Art “Virtuosos”, held in Lviv for the 44th time.

That evening, the INSO-Lviv orchestra will be led by conductors well known to Lviv audiences – Oleksandr Gordon, the principal mentor of the orchestra’s educational Academy, who will also perform as viola soloist, and Nicolas Chalvin, whose refined French artistry will lend the program a special sense of elegance and emotion.

The first half of the concert will be dedicated to works by Ukrainian composers.
A brilliant opening comes with the Overture to the opera “The Falcon” (1768) by Dmytro Bortniansky, imbued with European grace and theatricality. Unrestrained and soaring like a bird in flight, Bortniansky’s overture can be compared to a wind that carries precious reflections and elevates the most sincere emotions.

Next is the symphonic poem “Signs” (2013) by Hanna Havrylets – a work that envelops the listener in a deep soundscape of symbolic motifs, reflecting on the meaning of life’s turning points and the search for one’s true self. Havrylets’ heartfelt music about fate and its signs fills the soul with contemplations and melancholy hues.

A key highlight of the evening will be the Lviv premiere of the Viola Concerto (2023) by Oleksandr Rodin – a musical revelation that will unfold through the rich timbre of the solo viola in the hands of Oleksandr Gordon. Rodin’s profound and mysterious music touches the deepest strings of the soul, leaving a lasting impression. Prepare to experience its powerful emotional resonance.

The second half of the evening will be devoted to the genius of Viennese classicism – Ludwig van Beethoven.
His Symphony No. 6 “Pastoral” enchants with its depiction of fields, forests, and meadows, framed by the crystalline sounds of spring water streams. Light, grace, sincerity, and simplicity – in this symphony, Beethoven invites us on a stroll that offers a sense of harmony with nature and with oneself.

The concert will conclude with the grand “Wellington’s Victory” (1813) – a rousing composition celebrating triumph, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit. This work brought Beethoven more fame and income than any of his other compositions, as martial music was highly in demand across Europe at the time.
Today, Ukrainians too long for the day of Victory. Thus, this festive finale to the concert and the 2025 edition of the INSO-Lviv Music Academy, which brought together dozens of talented young musicians, will become a symbol of hope and faith in a bright future for Ukraine – one where there is a rightful place for art and for those who passionately create it.

“LEHIT” is a unique opportunity to feel how music can transform space and time, enveloping everything around in an unforgettable breeze of harmony and inspiration.