12 hours ago
Harmony amid hostilities
More than three years of war between Russia and Ukraine have destroyed many friendships. But the gift of music can transcend borders and hostilities, as shown by a Russian pianist who continues to perform pieces by a Ukrainian composer with whom he has worked for decades.
Russian pianist Alexey Lubimov has earned fans the world over for his virtuoso performances. The 80-year-old is a master of many styles, but lately, he has caused a stir by playing works of Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, 87. Russian pianist Alexey Lubimov spoke with NHK World before his Tokyo concert in April.
The pair first met in 1968, when both Russia and Ukraine were part of the Soviet Union. Silvestrov would write pieces for Lubimov to play.
The Russian says he was captivated by the Ukrainian's compositions: "For me, Silvestrov was the most gifted composer of all the young composers at the time. I watched and followed every transformation of his music style, from very avant-garde to very advanced." Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, left, and Lubimov have been part of the same music scene for nearly 60 years. An ultimatum
The pair's longtime bond was put to the test in 2022, when their countries entered a full-scale conflict. Silvestrov fled Kyiv for Berlin. Soon afterwards, he told a German media outlet, "I don't want Russians to ever play my music again." Silvestrov's message in 2022 was aimed at all the Russian pianists with whom he had worked, including Lubimov.
Lubimov told Silvestrov at the time that he understood his friend's feelings.
"Silvestrov was so sad, so angry, that he forbade Russians to perform his music," the pianist recalls. Harmony transcending hostilities
But Lubimov decided to keep Silvestrov's works on his set list. He held a concert in Moscow in 2022 condemning the invasion of Ukraine, and the event attracted the attention of the Russian police. Police officers in Moscow approached Lubimov as he performed a piece by Silvestrov in 2022.
The police tried to stop the show, but Lubimov kept on playing. He was not detained, but the situation could have ended badly.
Lubimov says the concert went ahead because "we had to continue Silvestrov's music so as not to forget it. We are not enemies to him or his music."
When footage of the concert reached Silvestrov, he later told his Russian friend, "I am very happy. I am very proud of you."
Silvestrov no longer bans his Russian friends from playing his compositions. Lubimov says he carries on doing so because so much is at stake.
"Silvestrov is a messenger, and I am also a messenger for him. I try to transmit his message to the public, to the audience," he says. "It is not possible to express this message with words, but music can. It touches the hearts of people." Silvestrov's pieces were central to Lubimov's set list at his Tokyo concert in April.
Lubimov began to experience vision trouble over the past few years, making it difficult for him to see the piano keys. He was once resigned to retiring due to these problems, but he says he changed his mind after Silvestrov's ultimatum led him to stage the peace concert in Moscow.
Although Lubimov does not know how much longer he will be able to continue, he says he is determined to keep playing Silvestrov's music for as long as his mind and body allow.
