The art of classical music is timeless. The music of great composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky has swelled through various instruments throughout generations; few other orchestras echo the timeless nature of classical music quite like the chamber orchestra Moscow Virtuosi.
Vladimir Spivakov founded the orchestra 35 years ago when the Soviet Union was still in power and all orchestras had to play music that had been pre-approved by the Ministry of Culture; if an orchestra was to be formed, the government would also choose the musicians that would be hired.
Spivakov refused to follow the rules, instead gathering a group of musicians from his own circle of friends to play music that he wanted to play. That same determination allowed Spirakov to register his orchestra at a turbulent time in Russia’s history.
The orchestra made their debut at the Cultural Olympiad before the 1980 Russian Olympics. They are now based at the Moscow Performing Arts Centre and give hundreds of performances each year at some of the most prestigious venues around the world, including New York’s Carnegie Hall.
“I believe that classical music is the root and premise of everything.” – Svetlana Dvortetsky, president, Show One Productions
Svetlana Dvoretsky, president of Show One Productions, is delighted to be hosting the orchestra’s special 35th anniversary on May 6 at the Chan Centre, especially since she has a longstanding connection with Spivakov himself. Her mother and Spivakov had been classmates at the same special music school in Russia — an institution that was dedicated to nurturing the talents of future musicians.
While she had been introduced to Spivakov as a young girl, Dvoretsky truly connected with him as an adult as he helped her start her business. Says Dvoretsky of Spivakov, “He not only listened to me, but he trusted me enough to set me up with his American management and [set me up] as the Canadian presenter for his North American tours. He gave me a chance, and that is how my company started.”
In 2004, Moscow Virtuosi was the first headlining concert of Show One Productions. The orchestra is now giving its first performance in Vancouver in six years. Dvoretsky cites Spivakov as being a charismatic conductor who isn’t afraid to try new ways of performing, from throwing instruments into the air to seating audience members onstage when theatres are at their maximum capacity.
As for what the show will bring for Canadian audiences, Dvoretsky says, “I believe that classical music is the root and premise of everything. Music is the unifying language that we have — our way of working through a cultural exchange. It is timeless, it [is capable] of making people feel a whole range of emotion, and I truly believe that it evokes an awakening in people.”
it’s extremely sad that the media are refusing to acknowledge the unpopular political stand Mr #Spivakov took earlier this year when he signed an open letter approving of Russia’s military aggression in #Ukraine in their coverage of the event. When we asked Show One Productions if they feel comfortable hosting a musician who publicly gave his support to a warmonger they responded by removing our posts and comments from their facebook page and disabling posts to prevent the truth from spreading. UBC distanced itself from the event by saying it’s not their initiative and the hall is being rented out for the night of the concert. I find it disappointing that everyone seems to avoid the inconvenient truth and I hope The Peak chooses to cover cultural events in #Vancouver in a more balanced and unbiased way in the future.
Mr.Spivakov, I want to like your music, but I could not, because you support Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, you support war, you support murder. How can you play after that?
I have participated in a protest against Spivakov’s concert in Seattle on May 4th. I believe that artists, musicians, celebrities have a moral responsibility to promote common values and peace. Spivakov has publicly supported Putin’s policies, which directly resulted in occupation of Crimea and current violence in Ukraine. Media and cultural institutions have to provide an honest assessment of Spivakov’s support of war in Ukraine, and adjust their position based on it. Don’t support those who support war with your money!
Vladimir Spivakov, a leading Russian conductor, was among the first to sign a
public letter pledging full support to Putin’s policy toward Ukraine. In May, Spivakov is coming
on tour to the US and Canada. A newly formed group, Music Lovers Against Putin’s Aggression,
has launched a petition calling to boycott Spivakov’s concerts. The petition has rapidly gained
more than 1500 signatures from nearly all 50 states, Canada, Israel, UK, Germany and France.
A WAVE OF PROTESTS IS GAINING MOMENTUM
Spokespeople for the group appeared on the Boston TV channel BNN and spoke to a radio
station Vera in Vancouver, discussing upcoming boycott of Spivakov’s concerts and the
corresponding petition. In recent weeks the boycott and petition have also been covered by a
Boston newspaper and a Russian magazine.
Members of the group took part in a demonstration in front of Carnegie Hall in New York City,
protesting a performance by another signatory of the infamous letter, vocal Putin advocate
Valery Gergiev, who was conducting the Munich Philharmonic. The protest was loud, vivid and
attracted coverage by the media (New York Times, Concertonet). Recent protests at Gergiev’s
concerts in London and Paris were received media coverage as well, and a petition in Germany
to terminate Gergiev’s contract with the Munich Philharmonic has garnered widespread support.
THIS IS NOT A TIME TO STAY SILENT
While respecting the right to free expression, the group believes that Spivakov, Gergiev and the
others who signed the open letter supporting Putin’s policy toward Ukraine used their fame,
influence and popularity to promote war, aggression and violence.
The wave of public condemnation is growing, and demonstrations are being organized in every
city where Spivakov is scheduled to perform. The demonstrations seek to inform the audience
and members of the public that Spivakov has pledged support to an administration that has
openly disregarded international law and violated the sovereignty of Ukraine. They are made up
of conscientious citizens and lovers of music, who have mobilized in order to seek creative, nonviolent
means of expressing their disappointment and outrage at Spivakov’s decision, and at the
belligerent and violent conduct of the Putin administration.
PLANNED PROTESTS
Los Angeles, CA Wilshire Ebell Theatre, May 6pm
Seattle, WA Benaroya Hall, May 4, 6pm
Vancouver, Canada, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, May 6 7pm
Toronto, Canada, Roy Thomson Hall, May 9, 7pm
Washington, DC Strathmore Hall May 10, 6pm
Boston, MA Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, May 11, 6pm
Princeton, NJ McCarter Theatre, May 15 6:30pm
Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), May 16, 7pm
Greenvale, NY Tilles Center for the Performing Arts May 17, 7pm
New York City, NY Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, May 18 2pm
CONTACT MusicLoversAgainstAggression@gmail.com