National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

Glasgow Life Presents:

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

Conductor: Volodymyr Sirenko

Soloist: Maria Pukhlianko, piano

Maksym Berezovsky The First Ukrainian Symphony in C Major

Mozart Piano Concerto no. 23 (Maria Pukhlianko)

Delius On Hearing the First Cuckoo of Spring & Summer Night on the River

Mendelssohn Symphony no. 4 Italian

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

Formed by the Council of Ministers of Ukraine in November of 1918, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is considered to be one of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe. Its first conductor was Oleksandr Horilyj. Natan Rachlin was the Artistic Director of the Orchestra from 1937 until 1962. Stefan Turchak, Volodymyr Kozhuchar, Fedir Hlushchenko, Igor Blazhkov and Theodore Kuchar consequently conducted the Orchestra as its Principal Conductors. Other conductors who have worked with the NSOU include Kostiantyn Simeonov, Leopold Stokowski, Igor Markevitch, Kurt Sanderling, Kiril Kondrashin, Kurt Masur, Hermann Abendroth, Willy Ferrero and others. Soloists who performed with the NSOU include Artur Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Emil Gilels, Leonid Kogan, Gidon Kremer, Oleh Krysa, Monserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli and Juan Diego Flores. The NSOU was entrusted with the premiere performances of the works of the composers Borys Liatoshynskyi, Valentyn Sylvestrov, Myroslav Skoryk, and Yevhen Stankovych.

The Orchestra has gained international recognition over a remarkably short period of time. Since 1993, the NSOU has released more than 100 recordings including both Ukrainian and international repertoire, of which several received the highest acclaim. In 1994, the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) rated NSOU’s recording of Borys Liatoshynskyi’s Symphonies No. 2 and No. 3 as “The Best Recording of the Year”. The CD of Sylvestrov’s “Requiem for Larissa” was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005, followed by the recording of Bloch and Lees’ Violin Concertos being nominated for a Grammy four years later. The NSOU has performed throughout the world including tours of Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Volodymyr Sirenko currently holds the position of Artistic Director & Chief Conductor of the Orchestra with Oleksandr Hornostai as its Managing Director & Producer.

Volodymyr Sirenko

Volodymyr Sirenko graduated from the Kyiv Conservatoire in 1989 where he studied conducting under Prof. Allin Vlasenko. In 1990, he was a finalist at the International Conducting Competition in Prague. A year later, he was appointed as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Ukrainian Radio Symphony Orchestra, a position which he held until 1999. During this period he made over 200 recordings including Mozart Symphonies Nos. 38 and 41, Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Brahms A German Requiem, Dvorak Symphonies Nos. 7 and 9, R. Strauss “Macbeth” and Janacek “Taras Bulba”.

Since 1999 he has been Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (NSOU). Highlights from his tenure so far include performances of Gustav Mahler’s Complete Symphonies, Bach’s Four Passions and Mass in B Minor, Lyatoshynsky’s Complete Symphonies, Honegger’s “Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher”, Berlioz’s “La damnation de Faust” and Debussy’s “Le Martyre de St. Sebastien.

Maria Pukhlianko

Born into a family of musicians, Maria started piano lessons at the age of six. She eventually graduated with a Masters Degree from the P .I. Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine

As well as performing as a soloist with various Ukrainian orchestras and conductors, Maria regularly gives piano recitals. Her repertoire includes the works of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin and Rachmaninov as well as works by Ukrainian composers.

Maria is also a Director of the ENSEMBLE OF SOLOISTS “SOLO PLUS” which she established with Anton Kushnir in 2004. “SOLO PLUS” " is a small orchestra which showcases leading young Ukrainian performers from different disciplines.

As the Art Director for the international festival “Dynasty”, Maria has directed several projects including "The art of playing with an orchestra". Ms Pukhlianko is also a jury member and chief of the jury for several international piano competitions.