CONCERT REVIEW: "Moisei" and the Forte String Quartet with guest soloists at the Grazhda (09/21/03)

CONCERT REVIEW: "Moisei" and the Forte String Quartet with guest soloists at the Grazhda

by Bohdan Markiw

JEWETT, N.Y. - The 21st season of the Music and Art Center of Greene County's summer concert series concluded with outstanding performances of classical music as part of "Music at the Grazhda," with the two final concerts held on August 30 and 31.

The August 30 concert was a special event with the return of a special guest artist, the distinguished Ukrainian composer/pianist Myroslav Skoryk. The program featured a presentation based on Maestro Skoryk's new opera "Moisei" (Moses). The opera, which is based on an eponymous poem by the early 20th century Ukrainian poet Ivan Franko, had its premiere in 2001 at the century-old Solomea Krushelnytska Theater for Opera and Ballet in Lviv. During his visit to Ukraine, Pope John Paul II stopped at the Lviv opera house to meet with the composer and to give his blessing to the work.

The concert program commenced with Maestro Skoryk giving an overview of the opera's plot, which is centered on the trials and tribulations of Moses in leading his people out of Egypt, a story that can well relate to Ukraine in present times.

He then introduced the noted Ukrainian baritone Oleh Chmyr, who was to sing the principal arias from the opera, accompanied on the piano by the composer himself. Three of the arias rendered were those delivered by Moses: "Solitude has Enveloped Me," "Woe to You, Disobedient People" and "You Pledged to Hear the Words about Jehovah's Kindness." Another two arias sung by Moses' antagonist, Datan, were also undertaken by Mr. Chmyr, namely, "He Who Pretends to be a Prophet" and "Futile Thread, Futile Prophecy."

In each aria Mr. Chmyr, who was in splendid voice, modulated the color of his voice to reflect the feelings conveyed by the lyrics as well as to differentiate between the two characters, Moses and Datan.

Mr. Chmyr's velvety voice in "Solitude" was especially moving. However, Datan's aria "He Who Pretends" was the vocal highlight of the performance. In it, Mr. Chmyr's voice turned from ironic to that of a thunderous avalanche, that resounded with the refrain "He will be stoned."

To give the audience a better sense of the opera, the concert program also included a video presentation of the work made during a performance at the Lviv Opera house.

The concluding part of the program was devoted to the celebration of Maestro Skoryk's 65th birthday. Among featured works were "Masterpieces for Piano," written and played by the composer, and three of his songs as sung by Mr. Chmyr.

The concert proved to be an unforgettable and moving experience. A memorable evening ended with sustained applause.

* * *

The August 31 concert featured the Forte String Quartet, resident at the Brooklyn Conservatory. The ensemble comprises Mikhail Kuchuk and Oleksandr Abayev, violins; Roumi Petrova, viola; and Stas Orlovsky, cello.

The program opened with an inspired reading of Franz Schubert's "Two Cellos Quintet," in which the quartet was joined by the star Ukrainian cellist Natalia Khoma. The performance had the warm glow and subtle contours that the music invites with both cellists, producing a rich singing tone and a lovely Viennese lilt.

The second part of the concert consisted of an exquisite rarity, the "Concerto for Piano, Violin and String Quartet" by composer Ernest Chausson (1855-1899). This four-part masterpiece featured two superb Ukrainian soloists, the violinist Yuri Kharenko and the noted pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky. Mr. Kharenko solidly dedicated himself to "sing" his exquisite violin part with silky sound, while Mr. Vynnytsky skillfully scooped up thematic notes from the wild cascades of runs and arpeggios.

The audience responded with a standing ovation, calling upon the musicians to take repeated bows.

* * *

The 21st season was the production of the center's new music director, Mr. Vynnytsky and the new executive director, Ika Koznarska Casanova.

With such an outstanding set of final concerts, the new management is to be congratulated, with best wishes extended for future programs forming part of the "Music at the Grazhda" series.

Bohdan Markiw, an orchestral conductor, concert violinist and chamber musician, is recently retired longtime librarian at Yale University and director of St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church Choir in New Haven, Conn.

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