Artists:

• Vira Zhuk, violin (Ukraine/Austria)
• Academic Chamber Orchestra “Lviv Virtuosos”
• Parviz Yahyavi, conductor (Austria)

Program:

• Leonard Bernstein. “Serenade” based on “Plato’s Symposium” for solo violin, strings and percussion
• Arnold Schoenberg. “Enlightened Night” for string orchestra, Op. 4

“The world is us” are the lines of Richard Demel’s poem, the plot of which inspired Arnold Schoenberg to create one of his best works – “Enlightened Night”. The work is full of love, tenderness, anxiety and forgiveness and is considered one of Arnold Schoenberg’s masterpieces. For the second century, “Enlightened Night” remains a symbol of unconditional love. Her story, as well as her music, has excited more than one generation of listeners, and musicians compare her to a sprawling fiction novel, the story of which is worth living together with the main characters. The next piece of the program – “Serenade” based on “Plato’s Symposium” for solo violin, strings and percussion by maestro Leonard Bernstein – is imbued with reflections on what the highest and most celebrated feeling is.

The talent of the legendary Bernstein was embodied not only in conducting: the style of the music he wrote is no less recognizable, because the composer’s primary task was to make writing works interesting for all listeners, regardless of age, activity, or status. “Serenade” based on “Plato’s Symposium” was inspired by Plato’s Socratic dialogue, depicting a friendly impromptu competition of famous Athenians: politicians, philosophers, generals. And although “Symposium” belongs to reserved academic literature, Bernstein saw in it an antique version of a conversation between a group of friends at a party, each of whom has his own version of the vision of perfect love.

The first part of the serenade mentions the ancient Greek aristocrats Phaedrus and Pausanias, the second – the author of comedies Aristophanes, the third part is written according to the words of the doctor Eryximachus, the fourth – the tragic poet Agathon. The last statement included in the fifth part belongs to Socrates himself.

Bernstein scholars and admirers still debate the hidden meanings of Serenade, pondering whether the reference to Plato was actually a smokescreen or a metaphor for another, more hidden source of inspiration. Bernstein’s music could just as easily depict a party in mid-century New York as it could a party in ancient Athens. So she left behind enough mysteries for you, dear listeners, to come for the call of curiosity and secrets. The band will be the Academic Chamber Orchestra “Virtuosos of Lviv”, conductor Parviz Yahyavi and soloist – Vira Zhuk.

Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1889)

The icon of musical modernism is celebrating his birthday. The anniversary year 2024 will be celebrated at concert venues, museums and institutions around the world. The Austrian Bureau of Cooperation in Lviv and Ukraine Office Austria also join the celebration of the anniversary of the great Austrian composer.

Arnold Schoenberg is a composer, writer, teacher, theoretician, artist, inventor, leading figure of the Viennese school and the pioneer of the twelve-tone technique, which became a significant event in the history of music after 1900.

Schoenberg’s compositional work took his contemporaries to distant spheres. His music and ethical approach to art do not lose their relevance even today. As a vigilant and uncompromising co-creator of his era, he became the personification of the century.