«The swan of Tuonela» in Kyiv (to the 160th anniversary of the birth of Jean Sibelius)

Abstract

Relevance of the study. At the beginning of the 20th century, the musical life of Kyiv was on the rise. This was largely due to Alexander Mykolayovych Vinogradsky, a native of Kyiv, the longtime head of the Kyiv branch of the Russian Musical Society –– RMS (1888–1912) and the permanent leader of its symphonic gatherings. His concerts featured works not only by eminent authors, but also by a wide range of representatives of the contemporary musical process, including Emil Sauer, Karl Goldmark, Christian Sinding, Johan Svendsen, Giovanni Sgambati, and others. Among them, a new name stood out and was repeatedly heard - the young Finnish composer Jan Sibelius.

The main objective of the study. Based on the material of Kyiv periodicals of the early 20th century, the article recreates the atmosphere and circumstances of the first performance of Sibelius's works in Kyiv. This topic was not raised in the Ukrainian musicological literature.

The main results and conclusions. The first performance of J. Sibelius in Kyiv took place on March 29, 1902 at the Extraordinary Symphonic Assembly of the Kyiv Branch of the RMS under the direction of A.M. Vynogradsky. Sibelius's premiere work in Kyiv was the symphonic poem "The Swan of Tuonel". As was practiced in Kyiv, the concert was widely announced in newspapers. Critics introduced future listeners to the Finnish school of composers, recalled the outstanding success of the symphonic concerts of Finnish music at the World Exhibition in Paris (1900), called Sibelius "the head of Finnish composers" and published the program of "Tuonel's Swan". The special status of the concert was emphasized by the fact that it was a benefit for the orchestra and all the works included in the program were performed in Kyiv for the first time. Sibelius's piece was a great success and was repeated. In his review, the leading Kyiv critic V. Chechott noted the poem's connection with the emotional sound of Finnish nature, spoke about the orchestral features of the poem, and noted its intonational connection with the theme of the Holy Grail in Wagner's Parsifal. The second performance of the poem on January 26, 1904 was also successful. Vynogradsky's "Sibelian" was completed by "Saga" (January 16, 1906). Interest in Finnish musical culture received new impetus thanks to Robert Kajanus, a Finnish composer and conductor invited to Kyiv in 1902 to conduct summer symphony concerts in the Merchant's Garden. Kajanus introduced Kyivans to the suite of music by Sibelius to A. Paul's play "King Christian II" (May 13, 1902). After 1906, due to a conflict with the City Duma, the Kyiv branch of the RMS did not hold symphonic evenings. Other societies were involved in their organization, and concerts were conducted by invited guest musicians. Sibelius was absent from their programs. The life of Sibelius's music in Kyiv continues now. But the names of outstanding conductors Alexander Vinogradsky and Robert Kajanus will forever remain in the history of the "Kyiv Sibeliana" as those who discovered for the Kievites the music of the great Finn and the first of his outstanding interpreters.