Kyiv hosts Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition (04/05/98)

Kyiv hosts Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition

by Prof. Luba Zuk

MONTREAL - From November 19 to December 6, the Ukrainian capital city, Kyiv, hosted the prestigious Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition.

The Lysenko competition was founded in 1962 by a group of prominent Ukrainian composers and performers: Andriy Shtoharenko, Yevhen Stankovych, Myroslav Skoryk, Yelysaveta Chavdar, Yevhen Rzhanov and Ariadna Lysenko. It began as a national music competition and was held in such cities as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa and Zaporizhia. Over the 35 years of its existence the competition developed into one of the most influential musical events in Ukraine. In 1992, on the 150th anniversary of Lysenko's birth, it acquired international status. It is gratifying to note that several of Ukraine's best-known and celebrated performers have been winners of previous Lysenko competitions.

The 1997 Mykola Lysenko competition, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine and the Ukrainian State Center of Cultural Initiatives, was open to four performance areas: piano, violin, cello and voice. The excellent reputation of previous Lysenko competitions in particular, and the high level of musical standards in Ukraine in general, as well as substantial monetary prizes, attracted over 100 talented, highly trained young musicians from 12 countries. It was wonderful to hear such an abundance of musicianship, technical mastery and professionalism. Participants came from Armenia, Belarus, China, Georgia, Kazakstan, Korea, Latvia, Moldova and Russia, but the majority of competitors were from Ukraine.

Renowned pedagogues and performers were invited to act as jury members for each individual area of the competition. Depending on the discipline, jury panels had seven or eight members each, three members from Ukraine, and four or five members from the international music community. This year several laureates of previous Mykola Lysenko competitions were invited to serve on the jury.

Members of the piano jury were Prof. Mychailo Stepanenko, chairman of the jury, Ariadna Lysenko, grand-daughter of Mykola Lysenko, Ethella Chupryk (all three from Ukraine), Yuriy Ayrapetian (Russia), Jaroslaw Drzewiecki (Poland), Igo Koch (Austria) and this author (Canada). Among other prominent jurors from outside Ukraine were violinists: Simon Camartin (Switzerland), Dyusen Kaseinov (Kazakstan), Michael Striharz (Germany), Ihor Frolov (Russia); cellists: Medeia Abramian (Armenia), Wang Xiang (China), Maris Villerush (Latvia), Jerzy Wujtewicz (Poland), Yulia Panteliat (Austria), Serhiy Usanov (Russia); and vocalists: Lyudmyla Kolos (Belarus), Vasile Martinoiu (Romania), Mati Palm (Estonia) and Branislav Jatych (Yugoslavia).

The competition consisted of three rounds: two solo rounds (or solo with piano accompaniment) and the final round with orchestra. A festive gala concert with performances by the laureates and the distribution of medals, diplomas and prizes concluded the competition.

During all three rounds of the competition the contestants performed in several well-known locations: pianists in the Hall of Columns of the Philharmonic, others at the House of Scholars of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, at the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy, and at the State Opera House. All performances were open to the public free of charge.

As the performances were scheduled in several locations at the same time, it was very difficult to follow in detail the progress of all participants in each area. However, at the end of each round the results were discussed with great enthusiasm by the public, young performers and jury members.

The required program was most demanding, similar to that of other important international competitions such as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky or Queen Elizabeth of Belgium competitions, to name but a few. A wide range of standard repertoire with emphasis on large works was presented by most contestants. Perhaps the most important requirement of each of the areas of the competition was the performance of works by Lysenko and by contemporary Ukrainian composers. In the final round all finalists also performed a Ukrainian work - a concerto or an aria - with orchestral accompaniment.

The competition offered a unique opportunity to hear excellent performances of seldom heard or virtually unknown works by Mykola Lysenko, as well as many works by other Ukrainian composers. It was a veritable celebration of Ukrainian repertoire and, for many, a real discovery. It was also very interesting to hear compositions by composers from other countries, as each contestant was required to perform at least one work from the country he or she represented.

First prize winners in each category were awarded $5,000 (U.S.), the title of laureate and a gold medal; second prize - $3,000 (U.S.), the title of laureate and a silver medal; third prize - $2,000 (U.S.), the title of laureate and a bronze medal. The fourth- and fifth-place finalists each received a diploma and $1,000 (U.S.). There were also prizes of $1,000 (U.S.) each for the two best performances of works by Lysenko, for the best performance of a work by a contemporary Ukrainian composer, for the youngest contestant admitted to the semifinal round, as well as eight prizes of $500 (U.S.) each for two accompanists in each of the violin, cello, women's and men's voice areas.

For three weeks, Kyiv was filled with glorious music, excitement, anticipation and speculation as to which of the young artists was going to win the much coveted first prizes.

Inna Soldatenko, a brilliant 20-year-old Ukrainian pianist, a third-year student at the National Music Academy in Kyiv, was awarded the first prize in piano. The young laureate demonstrated excellent technique, astounding virtuosity, professional preparation and assurance in all three rounds. The second prize was won by Alina Chalikova, a highly deserving pianist, also a 20-year-old third-year student at the National Academy. She performed with a strong sense of drama and commitment, using a very large scale of dynamics.

The winner of the first prize in violin was Dmytro Tkachenko; the second prize was won by Ostap Shutko. As a first prize was not awarded in the cello area, the second prize was divided between Diana Havata and Kateryna Danylenko. The winners in the women's voice category were soprano Ludmyla Povstenko (first prize) and Zhanna Nimenska (second prize); in men's vocal area the first and second prizes were won by baritones Stanyslav Tryfonov and Mykhailo Kirishev, respectively.

It should be mentioned that all winners of top prizes, as well as the recipients of other prizes and diplomas, and several participants of the second and even the first round have participated, and were often winners, in several previous music competitions, both national and international. This attests to the very high standards of music education and professional music performance in Ukraine in particular, and the contemporary music world in general.

The official organizers of the competition - the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine and the State Center of Cultural Initiatives - were generous and gracious hosts, providing comfortable accommodations and excellent meals not only to the jury members, but also to those contestants who were admitted to the two final rounds. There were several guided tours and official visits: to lay wreaths at the Lysenko monument near the Opera House and at his gravesite in the Baykiv cemetery, visits to the Mykola Lysenko Museum, to historical and architectural landmarks, such as St. Sophia Cathedral and the Pecherska Lavra, and invitations to performances at the State Opera House, as well as several receptions with the participation of Minister of Culture Dmytro Ostapenko, Vice Minister of Culture Dr. Volodymyr Rozhok, who also was vice-chairman of the Organizing Committee, Mykhailo Burak, director of the competition, as well as high government and civic officials, and sponsors of medals and prizes.

The press and Ukrainian State Television and Radio provided coverage. The opening ceremonies and concert, the concluding gala concert as well as interviews with several jurors, both from Ukraine and abroad, were transmitted live. On the occasion of the opening of the competition President Leonid Kuchma sent warm greetings and congratulations to the participants and guests, wishing them "creative success and inspiration." While the final events were coming to an end, plans were already being made for the next Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition in the year 2001.

Luba Zuk, associate professor in the faculty of music at McGill University in Montreal, was a member of the piano jury at the Mykola Lysenko International Music Competition in Kyiv.