Ukraine: «Odessa Classics» European Music Festival, 10. – 14.6.2015 in Odessa
A Musical Road to Europe
ODESSA CLASSICS, a truly European music festival, will be taking place in Odessa from June 10th to 14th, 2015.
Under the creative leadership of its artistic director, Alexey Botvinov, a leading Ukrainian pianist, this annual event is bound to become a prominent festival brand and a long-term signature project in the cultural life of both Odessa and Ukraine. Using modern art management techniques and a European approach, the festival boasts a diverse and exciting program, bound to make it a major tourist attraction for domestic and foreign visitors alike.
Approximately 20 to 25 thousand persons are expected to attend the festival.
According to Alexey Botvinov, Odessa is generally thought to be a city of humour and fun-loving people. At the same time, nearly all world-class names either born or educated in Odessa represent classical academic art. Emil Gilels, David Oistrach, Svyatoslav Richter, Natan Milstein, Shura Cherkasskiy, Michail Fihtengolz, Valeriy Klimov, Eduard Grach, Semen Snitkovskiy, Bella Rudenko, Evgeniy Mogilevskiy – these are only some of many prominent Odessa «Classics». The Odessa Music Academy and the legendary Opera House are world-renowned landmarks.
It is more than unfortunate that a city of such outstanding classical tradition has been left behind and kept away from the centre of global and European cultural processes. A desire to help Odessa reestablish itself on the musical map of Europe is the inspiration, calling and message behind the festival.
The festival organizers created «Odessa Classics» bearing in mind high European standards with respect to both content and quality. The event offers an original musical program featuring leading European stars, well-known Ukrainian performers and talented young musicians from Odessa and other cultural centres in Ukraine. Here are some of the names: famous bass Paata Burchuladze, violinist Michael Guttman, the «Artehatta», «Hortus Musicus» and «Art Jazz Quartet» ensembles, as well as many others.
Besides, Odessa will be the venue of a revolutionary synthesis production entitled “The Art of War” (including musicians, actors and visual & light effects), directed by one of Ukraine’s leading theatre directors and producers, Vlad Troizkiy, and featuring Alexey Botvinov.
Chamber music concerts will take place in the Museum of Western and Oriental Art, the Literary Museum and the Odessa Museum of Modern Art, as a part of the «Music in Museums» program. There will also be thematic exhibitions on music and Odessa culture.
Open-air concerts have become Alexey Botvinov’s signature performances. This time the festival headliner will invite concertgoers to the Potemkin Stairs, where both Ukrainian and world stars will perform, accompanied by a light show and other modern multimedia.
The program will also include a discussion on «Global Promotion of the Cultural Image of Ukraine» among leading cultural experts, politicians and art managers.
The creative resources of Odessa provide the potential for a promising cultural comeback. The challenge of reestablishing a musical Odessa as a focus of attention in European cultural life will be addressed and met. The International Music Festical «ODESSA CLASSICS» is a worthy representative of its hometown Odessa, throughout Europe and worldwide.
Watch this space for Seen and Heard International’s report from this unique festival, or, even better, attend it yourself!
Click here to read an interview with Alexey Botvinov:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2010/Jul-Dec10/botvinov_interview.htm
and here to read a review of an his controversial production of Turandot in Odessa, the first contemporary opera production in the Ukranian capital:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/SandH/2010/Jan-Jun10/odessa_turandot2006.htm
Program of First international music festival “Odessa Classics”
http://en.odessaclassics.com/program