Friday, August 3, 2012

A new addition- August 2012


Dear Friends,

This year has marked the wonderful addition to our family with the birth our little girl, Anna Emilia Gavrylyuk! She has filled our life with great joy and we feel blessed to have her.

Recently

The Master Pianist Series at the Concertgebouw celebrated its jubilee in Amsterdam in March. The concert was attended by the Queen of the Netherlands and featured Alexander Gavrylyuk alongside fellow pianists including Yevgeny Kissin,  Jean Yve Thibaudet, Aldo Ciccolini, Nikolay Lugansky and Severin Von Eckardstein. 

Giving back is something we considers crucial to the longevity of classical music. Alexander's charity concert in February marked the official opening of The Foundation for Young Pianists in Sydney. The Foundation was formed by Ara and Nyree from Theme and Variations Piano Services in Sydney as a way to ensure young pianists get the support they need to continue their development. The concert was held at Government House with Her Excellency the Governor Professor Marie Bashir as guest of honour. Alexander serves the Foundations Ambassador. If you would like to get involved and donate please contact us per email.



Summer

Alexander relishes in a harsh winter. He enjoys the feeling of the face going numb, the screeching snow beneath his feet and walking in the forest. Summer is my favourite time of the year. Whether its enjoying a glass of wine on the terrace with friends or starring at the sea salt on my skin after a swim in the sea. I adore the smell of figs in Croatia, the smell of Jasmine in Australia and gazing at dusk through my window, I find myself lost in summer's dreamlike beauty. This summer has been filled with adventures of all sorts. Alexander had come home from his trip to Seoul and asked me to pack within half an hour as we were to drive south. So I did, quietly pleased with myself that I had managed to pack myself and the baby so quickly. We weren't sure where we were going but we followed the highway south to warmer pastures. We drove through the Alps and stayed at a horrible "GästeHaus" not far from the boarder to Austria. Nevertheless, the following day we made it to the Italian Riviera. We stayed in a small town near the border to Monaco called Bordighera in the Provence of Imperia. Joined by our close friends who we have come to adopt as family, we chatted late into the evenings on the balcony of the hotel enjoying wine and antipasti. While our trip included France and Monaco, it was our friends which made the trip so memorable. 

A few days ago we returned from Chautauqua in New York. Chautauqua comes alive for nine weeks of the year and celebrates the many wonderful aspects of what it means to be human. Unlike any other place known to me, it successfully combines music, dance, opera, literary circles, faith, politics, speakers and lecturers. Chautauqua holds a very dear place in our hearts as do the Chautauquans. Alexander gave masterclasses and performed Rachmaninov piano concerti number one and two this year with the symphony orchestra and Christopher Seaman. We stayed at the Hagen Wensley House and our Italian mum Rachel takes care of us. At the house we get the opportunity to interact with speakers, politicians, authors, and lecturers. This makes for a very personal and special stay. 

Tomorrow we are going to the Chopin Fesitval in Duszniki Zdroj. This piano festival is the oldest in Poland and is filled with afternoon and evening concerts as well as masterclasses. Alexander will perform a solo recital including works  Schumann, Chopin, Debussy, Liszt and Rachmaninov. Following his performance there, Alexander will go to Australia where he will perform Rachmaninov 2nd piano concerto with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. We have such fond memories of the SSO from our last trip where Alexander recorded the complete Prokofiev concerti with Maestro Ashkenazy.

When asked what it is that he likes about the Rachmaninov 2nd piano concerto Alexander answered:

"I find that this concerto transcends the limits and borders of the musical expression. I feel that the core of this music is it's spiritual strength, inner suffering and most importantly a victorious glory of the absolute truth and love expressed in the most heartfelt sincerety. "

Upcoming highlights 2013


***In May 2013 Alexander will make his debut with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande on a concert tour with the complete Rachmaninov concerti and the Rhapsody, conducted by Neeme Järvi.

***He will also be returning to perform with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the direction of Vladimir Jurowski the same year. 

***Alexander has been invited to play with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Charles Dutoit in 2013.

***Also in 2013 Alexander Gavrylyuk will be returning to play in Moscow with Russian National Philarmonic and Vladimir Spivakov conducting followed by concerts with the Svetlanov Russian State Symphony Orchestra, playing a recital at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory and a recital at the Kremlin.

My warmest wishes,
Zorica Gavrylyuk