Kharkiv Philharmonic Society

Kharkov Philharmonic, Ukraine (Kharkiv Philharmonic, Ukraine)

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Main entrance of Kharkov Philharmonic, Ukraine

   The House of Philharmonic (former Opera House) is the oldest concert organization in Ukraine, well-known landmark and cultural center – has seen for its history Henryk Wieniawski, Pablo Sarasate, Mattia Battistini, Titta Ruffo, Feodor Chaliapin, Piotr Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninov, Alexander Scriabin, Aram Khachaturian, Mstislav Rostropovich, Dmitri Shostakovich and many other outstanding composers and musicians.

  Here, in 1896, celebrated photographer Fedetsky held first cinema performance in Ukraine, from here first Ukrainian Broadcasting Station transmitted first radio signal.

  Leading collective of Philharmonic is Academic Symphony Orchestra. It has 100 high-professional musicians, many of them are prize-winners of International and National competitions.

  Kharkov Philharmonic is one of the leading organization of Ukraine, active promoter of the best samples of classical, current music, Ukrainian folk and classical music, paying much attention to youngsters, making big contribution to cultural life of Ukraine.

Academic Symphony Orchestra of Kharkov Philharmonic (Kharkiv Philharmonic)

   Orchestra is more than 100 hundred years old history. In October, 1929 it became the leading collective of All-Ukrainian Broadcasting Committee, and after Kharkiv Philharmonic Society founding, it got Philharmonic official status. First decade of the orchestra being was marked by collaboration with famous conductors K.Sanderling and Guido Adler, Fritz Stiedry, Eugen Szenkar (Hungary). Natan Rakhlin and David Oistrakh started their career at this orchestra.

  For the years of the orchestra’s being, brilliant musicians have played with it: Anton Rubinstein, Henrih Neigauz, Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Aram Khachaturian, Mstislav Rostropovich, Rudolf Kehrer, Vladimir Krainev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Vakhtang Jordania, Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Spivakov, Dimitri Bashkirov, Daniel Kramer, Sergey Stadler, Alexander Kniazev, Alain Daboncourt, James Oliverio, Sayaka Shoji, Ernest Hoetzl, Anton Sorokow, Alexander Gavrylyuk and many others.

  At present, the orchestra consists of 100 high-professional musicians, many of them are prize-winners of International and National competitions. The first violin of the orchestra - Igor Shapovalov /People’s Artist of Ukraine/.

  In 2001 Yuriy Yanko - Honoured Worker of Arts of Ukraine, prize-winner of The International Vakhtang Jordania Conducting Competition - was appointed Music Director and Principal Conductor of Kharkiv Philharmonic Orchestra. Clear gesture, emotionality, artistry, exactingness to the orchestra marks him as one of the best Ukrainian conductors.

  Kharkiv Philharmonic Orchestra regularly takes part in the International Forums of Classical Music – “Kyiv-Music-Fest”, “Kharkiv Assembly”, “Music – Our Common Home”, “Sergey Rakhmaninov and Ukrainian Culture”, “The International Vladimir Krainev Young Pianists Competition”, “The International Young Pianists Competition” in town of Kitzingen (Germany), “The International Vakhtang Jordania Conducting Competition”. Also, the orchestra tours successfully – being on a tour in Spain in 2003 it was recognized "The Best Foreign Orchestra Of The Year".

  In October 2006 Orchestra received Academic status. Orchestra audio recordings are kept in the National Radio reserves, its concerts are broadcasted on radio and TV, its reviews are published in regional and national press.

Principal Conductor Yuriy Yanko

Director of Kharkiv Philharmonic (CEO)

Principal Conductor and Artistic Director

First Prize winner of The International Vakhtang Jordania Conducting Competition

Honoured Worker of Arts of Ukraine

  Outstanding masterly performance, intimate knowledge of musical styles and national schools inhere in Yuriy Yanko’s art. Clear gesture, emotionality, artistry, exactingness to the orchestra makes him one of the best Ukrainian conductors.

  Born in Kharkiv, Yuriy Yanko completed the first part of his musical studies in his native town at Special Music School (1980). He continued his education at Kharkiv University of Arts (1985) and Kyiv National Conservatory (1991), studying operatic & symphonic conducting with Turchak, Dushchenko, Vakhtang Jordania.

  Yanko has worked as Conductor at Academic Philharmonic Orchestra in Zaporizhzhya (1991-1994), Music Director and Conductor of Kharkiv Special Music School Chamber Orchestra (1999-2004). Since 1994 – Kharkiv Opera House Conductor, where he has staged many opera and ballet performances.

  Since 2001 Yuriy Yanko has worked as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Academic Symphony Orchestra of Kharkiv Philharmonic, and in 2004 he was appointed Director of Kharkiv Philharmonic (involves several different musical collectives, including the Orchestra).

  Yuriy Yanko is at educational work, he has received The Kharkiv Regional Government Diplomas (2002, 2006), Kharkiv Mayor’s supreme award “For Zeal” (2004). He has been annual laureate of regional rate (Kharkiver of year” for 6 years (2001-2006), and prize-winner of the “Public Recognition” prize (2004).

  Well-known musicians of the present – Dmitri Bashkirov, Bogodar Kotorovitch, Vladimir Krainev, Daniel Kramer, Yuriy Loyevsky, Nikolai Arnoldovich Petrov, Sergey Stadler, Naum Shtarkman, Alexander Kniazev, and many others – appreciate Yanko’s conducting mastery. He has conducted in Musikverein Vienna (Golden Hall) and with National Symphonic Orchestras of Ukraine, Moldova, with numerous Russian and Ukrainian orchestras, his performing art is known to listeners of many countries: Austria, Holland, Egypt, Spain, Italy, Germany, South Korea, Czech, Poland, Bulgaria, Russia, USA, France, Switzerland.

  He received the order of merits for the republic of Ukraine from the president of Ukraine

Different musicians at different times about Orchestra and Maestro Yuriy Yanko:

  "Kharkiv Philharmonic Orchestra should be considered to be one of the most outstanding orchestra in our country (USSR, then). Each of my performances with the orchestra brings me genuine pleasure". (Emil Gilels/1948)

  "With great pleasure I shall visit Kharkiv again (if you invite me?...) as I truly feel love for music both in orchestra and among the audience".(Sviatoslav Richter/1949)

  "I experienced great pleasure performing with Kharkiv Philharmonic Orchestra. There is an endless love for music that is felt in each artist of the Orchestra, which makes the whole Orchestra united and inspired. With great pleasure I will come again". (Mstislav Rostropovich/1950)

  "The Orchestra of Kharkiv Philharmonic is an excellent orchestra. It favorably distinguishes itself from the other orchestras with its high professionalism". (Aram Khachaturyan/1951)

  "I shall always remember with tremendous joy my concerts with Kharkiv Philharmonic Orchestra where I performed in front of a wonderful audience. I heartily wish to all members of Kharkiv Philharmonic Orchestra great success for the glory of music culture". (Dmitri Shostakovich/1953)

  "Kharkiv is a wonderful musical city. Assemblies, contests, concerts - all possible forms and approaches of expression of music ideas perfectly reflect the demand of audience. And what is important - a very professional Orchestra of Kharkiv Philharmonic".(Mikhail Pletnev/2006)

  "Yuriy Yanko - very talented musician, conductor with limitless technical and creative abilities, wonderful organizer and leader of Kharkiv Philharmonic Orchestra and Kharkiv Philharmonic. I am sure that with his help Philharmonic will be the best in the former USSR". (Vladimir Krainev/2008)

Academic Chorus of Kharkov Philharmonic (Kharkiv Philharmonic)

Academic Chorus of Kharkov Philharmonic named after V. Palkin and Chief leader of Chorus, prize winner of the all-Ukrainian chorus masters contest, Andriy Syrotenko.

  Traditions of concert chorus singing in Kharkiv philharmonic were founded as long ago as the thirties of XX century.

  From 1936 a chapel under the direction of a famous Ukrainian chorus master O. Bryzchakha worked being attached to Kharkiv philharmonic. In 1938 it was headed by K. Hrechenko, in 1943 – by E. Konopliova, in 1944 -1945 – by H. Davydovs’kyi. In March of 1956 the chapel was reorganized in the Chorus of Ukrainian song, which existed till 1962, and then it was broken up.

  History of the group, which performs in Kharkiv philharmonic nowadays, begins in 1980. At that time the Chamber chorus of a regional department of Ukrainian music society and regional culture administration was established on one of the most outstanding figures of the Vyacheslav Palkin National conductor-chorus school’s initiative. His performances became a considerable phenomenon in the music life of the city, beginning from his first concert (January, 1981). In 1980 years the chorus toured Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine, Moscow (Russia), Moldova, Latvia, Georgia, South Ossetia, being appreciated by music community in the best way everywhere. The chorus managed to get a philharmonic status due to intensive concert activity, professional performers and great repertory.

  In July, 1991 the chorus for the first time performed as a chamber chorus of Kharkiv regional philharmonic.

  The Chamber chorus is a prizewinner of the best prizes of The First M. Leontovych all-Ukrainian chorus contest (1989), The All-Ukrainian chorus contest (Dnipropetrovs’k city, 2001), The International contest “Khainovs’ki dni tserkovnykh pisnespiviv” (Poland, 2005).

  The chorus became a part to many art events:

  International and all-Ukrainian festivals and such like projects: The First all-Ukrainian chorus assembly (Kyiv, 1993), creative project “Slobozchans’kyi Velykden” (Kyiv, 1996),2000 years of the Nativity and the Reformation Day celebration (Germany, 2000),The VI Chorus-fest “Zolotoverkhyi Kyiv” (Kyiv, 2002), “Taras Shevchenko prizewinners’ suzir’ya” (Kyiv, 2003), The all-Ukrainian chorus assembly by 130-years from Oleksandr Koshytsia’s birth (Kyiv, 2005) – at experts of arts and artistic groups of Kharkiv region concerts under review (Kyiv – 1999, 2001, 2004); as a guest of honour – to The all-Ukrainian chorus contest (Dnipropetrovs’k city, 2006) and to The International contest “Khainovs’ki dni tserkovnykh pisnespiviv” (Poland, 2006, 2009).

  Concert programmes of the Chamber chorus are composed of works by Ukrainian composers Lesia Dychko, T. Kravtsov, Mykola Leontovych, Mykola Lysenko, Yevhen Stankovych, Kyrylo Stetsenko, M. Stetsiun; Russian composers V. Gavrylin, Mikhail Glinka, Sergei Rachmaninov, Sergei Taneyev, Alfred Schnittke; west-european composers I. S. Bach, Hector Berlioz, Carl Maria von Weber, O. Lasso, W. A. Mozart, F. Schubert, Gorskiy, etc.

  The chamber chorus regularly gives concerts in the Pillared hall of the National philharmonic of Ukraine (1989, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003), it performs with symphony orchestras of the National philharmonic of Ukraine (Kyiv), Kharkiv and Belgorod philharmonics. Very famous conductors worked with the chorus. They are D. Sax and Vakhtang Jordania, A. Rameright (Austria), D. L. Jones (Great Britain), I. Cockars (Latvia), R. D. Young (South Korea), A. Kalabukhin, R. Kaufmann, I. Palkin, Yuriy Yanko.

  Experts draw attention to high vocal and scenic culture, wonderful singer's voices. Nowadays, the chamber chorus of Kharkiv philharmonic is a bright phenomenon of modern music culture of Ukraine. It is a mobile creative group, which is able to perform with various styles and genres of choral music. Choral art devotees have an opportunity to listen to a lot of works performed by the Chamber chorus – both modern works and famous ones, interpreted in very interesting ways.

  In november 2008 the Chorus received the status of Academic and named after Vyacheslav Palkin.

  Discography:

  1.“Petite messe sollennelle” Gioachino Rossini, religious and folk music (2000)

  2.“Spochatku bulo slovo” – exclusive double CD with music by Duke Ellington with jazz musicians from St. Petersburg (Russia) - Vladimir Feiertag and David Goloschekin (2000).

See also

official site of Kharkov Philharmonic

"Easter Gift" Concert for 6000 people April 20, 2009, Conductor Yuriy Yanko