Valentyn Silvestrov
Valentin Vasylyovych Silvestrov (Ukrainian: Валенти́н Васи́льович Сильве́стров, also known as Valentyn Vasilyevich Sylvestrov[1] and Valentyn Vasil′yovych Sil'vestrov;[2] born 30 September 1937) is a Ukrainian composer and pianist who plays and writes contemporary classical music. He is a laureate of Shevchenko National Prize.[3]
Biography
[edit]Valentin Vasylyovych Silvestrov was born on 30 September 1937 in Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, then part of the Soviet Union.[4]
Silvestrov began private music lessons at 15. After first teaching himself, he studied piano at the Kyiv Evening Music School from 1955 to 1958 whilst training to become a civil engineer. He attended the Kyiv Conservatory from 1958 to 1964, where he studied musical composition with Borys Lyatoshynsky and harmony and counterpoint with Levko Revutsky. He then taught at a music studio in Kyiv.[4]
Silvestrov was a freelance composer in Kyiv from 1970 to 2022. He fled to Berlin upon the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[4]
Music
[edit]Silvestrov is best known for his postmodern music, some of which is also considered neoclassical. Using traditional tonal and modal techniques, he creates delicate tapestries of dramatic and emotional textures, qualities he feels are often lost in contemporary music: "I do not write new music. My music is a response to and an echo of what already exists."[5]
In 1974, pressured to conform to socialist realism and trends of modernism, and to apologise for his composers' meeting walkout protesting the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia,[6] Silvestrov withdrew from the spotlight and began to reject his earlier modernist style, composing the Silent Songs (Тихі Пісні, 1977) cycle for private performance. After the Soviet Union's fall, he composed spiritual and religious works influenced by Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox liturgical music.[7] He traced his rejection of avant-garde techniques to his Kyiv Conservatory years, when Lyatoshynsky asked, "Do you like this?", a question he said was "ingrained in my soul".[8]
His recent 70-minute violin and piano cycle, Melodies of the Moments (Мелодії Миттєвостей), seven works with 22 movements, is intimate and elusive. He describes it as "melodies ... on the boundary between their appearance and disappearance".[9] Elements of Ukrainian nationalism occur in works like Diptych, which sets the words of Taras Shevchenko's prominent patriotic poem "Testament" ("Заповіт", 1845) to music for chorus. He dedicated it in 2014 to Serhiy Nigoyan, the Armenian-Ukrainian Euromaidan activist killed in the 2014 Hrushevsky Street protests, perhaps the first of the Maidan casualties that led to the Revolution of Dignity.[7][10]
Works
[edit] |
Silvestrov's principal and published works include 9 symphonies, poems for piano and orchestra, miscellaneous pieces for chamber orchestra, three string quartets, a piano quintet, three piano sonatas, chamber music, and vocal music (cantatas, songs, etc.).[2][11]
| Work | Year | Rev. | Genre[11] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symphony No. 1 | 1963 | 1974 | Orchestra |
| Classical Overture | 1964 | Orchestra | |
| Monodia for piano and orchestra | 1965 | Orchestra | |
| Spectres | 1965 | Chamber Orchestra/Ensemble | |
| Symphony No. 2 for flute, timpani, piano, and string orchestra | 1965 | Chamber Orchestra/Ensemble | |
| Symphony No. 3, "Eschatophony" | 1966 | Orchestra | |
| Hymn | 1968 | Orchestra | |
| Poem (in memoriam B. N. Liatoshynsky) | 1968 | Orchestra | |
| Meditation for chamber orchestra | 1972 | Orchestra | |
| Postludium for piano and orchestra | 1974 | Orchestra | |
| Symphony No. 4 for brass instruments and strings | 1976 | Orchestra | |
| Serenade for Chamber Orchestra | 1978 | Orchestra | |
| Symphony No. 5 | 1980-82 | Orchestra | |
| Intermezzo | 1983 | Chamber Orchestra/Ensemble | |
| Exegi monumentum for baritone (or soprano) and orchestra | 1985-87 | Vocal | |
| Widmung (Dedication), symphony for violin and orchestra | 1990-91 | Orchestra | |
| Metamuzïka for piano and orchestra | 1992 | Orchestra | |
| Symphony No. 6 | 1994-95 | Orchestra | |
| Visnyk 96 (The Messenger) for synthesizer, piano and string orchestra | 1997 | Orchestra | |
| Hymn 2001 | 2001 | Chamber Orchestra/Ensemble | |
| Meta Waltz, symphonic poem for orchestra | 2002 | Orchestra | |
| Symphony No. 7 | 2003 | Orchestra | |
| Symphony No. 8 | 2012-13 | Orchestra | |
| Symphony No. 9 | 2017-19 | Orchestra | |
| Prayer for Ukraine (arr. by Eduard Resatsch) | 2022 | Chamber Orchestra/Ensemble | |
| Prayer for Ukraine (arr. by Andreas Gies) | 2022 | Orchestra | |
| Piano Sonata No. 1 | 1960 | 1972 | Piano Solo |
| Sonatina | 1960 | Piano Solo | |
| Piano Quintet | 1961 | Chamber Music | |
| Five Pieces for Piano | 1961 | Piano Solo | |
| Quartetto Piccolo for String Quartet | 1961 | Chamber Music | |
| Triada, 13 pieces for piano | 1961 | Piano Solo | |
| Trio for Flute, Trumpet, and Celeste | 1962 | Chamber Music | |
| Mystery for Alto Flute and Six Percussion Groups | 1964 | Chamber Music | |
| Projections for Harpsichord, Vib, and Chimes | 1965 | Chamber Music | |
| Elegy for piano | 1967 | Piano Solo | |
| Drama for violin, cello, and piano | 1969-71 | Chamber Music | |
| Children's Music, Books 1 & 2 | 1973 | Piano Solo | |
| Music in Olden Style | 1973 | Piano Solo | |
| String Quartet No. 1 | 1974 | Chamber Music | |
| Piano Sonata No. 2 | 1975 | Piano Solo | |
| Kitsch-Music | 1977 | Piano Solo | |
| Piano Sonata No. 3 | 1979 | Piano Solo | |
| Postludium for violin | 1981 | Violin Solo | |
| Postludium for cello and piano | 1982 | Chamber Music | |
| Sonata for cello | 1983 | Chamber Music | |
| String Quartet No. 2 | 1988 | Chamber Music | |
| Post Scriptum sonata for violin and piano | 1990 | Chamber Music | |
| Misterioso for clarinet and piano | 1996 | Chamber Music | |
| 5 Cycles for violin and piano | 2019-21 | Chamber Music | |
| A Winter Night’s Music for violin, piano, and synthesizer ("wind") | 2004-10 | 2018[12] | Chamber Music |
| Epitaphium (L.B.) for violin or cello and piano | 1999 | Chamber Music | |
| Five Pieces from Melodies of the Moments for violin and piano | 2004 | Chamber Music | |
| Hommage à J.S.B. for violin and piano | 2009 | Chamber Music | |
| Melodies of the Moments — Cycle I for violin and piano | 2004 | Chamber Music | |
| Melodies of the Moments — Cycle II for violin and piano | 2004 | Chamber Music | |
| Melodies of the Moments — Cycle III for violin and piano | 2004 | Chamber Music | |
| Melodies of the Moments — Cycle IV for violin and piano | 2004 | Chamber Music | |
| Melodies of the Moments — Cycle V for violin and piano | 2004-05 | Chamber Music | |
| Songs Without Words for violin and piano | 2004 | Chamber Music | |
| Fugitive Visions of Mozart for violin, cello, and piano
(originally titled Moments of Mozart) |
2006 | 2007 | Chamber Music |
| Two Pieces for violin and piano | 2010 | Chamber Music | |
| Pastorals for violin and piano | 2020 | Chamber Music | |
| Pastorals for violin, cello, and piano | 2023 | Chamber Music | |
| Icon | 2004 | Chamber Music | |
| Sonata for Cello and Piano | 1983 | 2000 | Chamber Music |
| String Quartet No. 3 | 2011 | Chamber Music | |
| Diptychon | 1995 | Choral | |
| Three Sacred Songs | 2013 | Choral | |
| Elegy | 1996 | Choral | |
| Prayer for Ukraine | 2014 | Choral | |
| Liturgical Chants | 2005 | Choral | |
| Ode to Joy | 2011 | Choral | |
| Psalm: 8 Variations on the Ukrainian folksong "Oh, from the rocky mountain" | 2019 | Choral | |
| Requiem for Larissa | 1997-99 | Choral | |
| Over All the Mountain Tops is Peace | 2009 | Choral | |
| Four Sacred Chants | 2022 | Choral | |
| Four Psalms | 2024 | Choral | |
| Two Christmas Lullabies | 2006 | Choral | |
| Maidan 2014: a cycle of cycles in the wake of the Euromaidan[13] | 2014-16 | Choral | |
| Moments of Poetry and Music | 2003 | Choral | |
| Autumn Serenade for soprano and chamber orchestra | 1980 | 2000 | Vocal |
| Cantata for soprano and chamber orchestra | 1973 | Vocal | |
| Cantata No. 12 for soprano or baritone and chamber orchestra | 2020 | Vocal | |
| Cantata No. 4 for soprano, piano, and string orchestra | 2014 | Vocal | |
| Ode to the Nightingale cantata for soprano, piano, and chamber orch | 1983 | 2000 | Vocal |
| Silent Songs | 1974-77 | Vocal | |
| Three Postludes for soprano, violin, cello, and piano | 1981 | 1982 | Vocal |
Discography
[edit]Silvestrov has released/appeared on 16 albums with ECM, which began a dedicated series to the composer in 2002. This series includes a 1986 archival recording of the song cycle Silent Songs.[14] Albums in ECM's Silvestrov series include:
- leggiero, pesante (2002) — ECM 1776
- Metamusik/Postludium (2003) — ECM 1790
- Requiem for Larissa (2004) — ECM 1778
- Silent Songs (2004) — ECM 1898/99
- Symphony No. 6 (2007) — ECM 1935
- Bagatellen und Serenaden (2007) — ECM 1988
- Sacred Works (2009) — ECM 2117
- Sacred Songs (2012) — ECM 2279
- Hieroglyphen der Nacht (2017) — ECM 2389
- Maidan (2022) — ECM 2359
Across all labels, the website Presto Music lists over 140 albums for Silvestrov,[15] including Valentin Silvestrov: Forgotten Word I Wished to Say, released on Sony Classical by pianist Alexei Lubimov and soprano Viktoriia Vitrenko. Lubimov also released Silvestrov: ...flowering Over Lethe... on the label Fuga Libera in 2025.[16]
In 2023, pianist Hélène Grimaud and baritone Konstantin Krimmel recorded his Silent Songs for Deutsche Grammophon. Grimaud also released a tribute album to Silvestrov on the same label in 2022. Violinist Daniel Hope and pianist Alexey Botvinov released a similar album, also for DG, that same year (which marked the composer's 85th birthday).
References
[edit]- ^ "Valentin Vasilyevich Sylvestrov (composer) - Buy recordings". Presto Music. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ a b Baley, Virko (2001). Sil′vestrov, Valentyn Vasil′yovych. Oxford Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.25801.
- ^ Лауреати Національної премії [National Award Winners]. Committee for the Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 13 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Valentin Silvestrov". Schott. Schott Music GmbH & Co. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ "Valentin Sylvesrov". ECM. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
- ^ Anastasia Belina-Johnson, notes to 'To Thee We Sing' (2015), Ondine Records ODE 1266-5
- ^ a b Belina-Johnson, 2015
- ^ Schmelz 2009, p. 35.
- ^ Sleeve notes to recording, Fleeting Melodies, Rostok Records, 2008
- ^ "Київський композитор присвятив два твори пам'яті Сергія Нігояна" [Kyiv composer dedicates two songs to the memory of Nigoyan] (in Ukrainian). Unian. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Valentin Silvestrov". www.schott-music.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "A Winter Night's Music". www.schott-music.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "Valentin Silvestrov: Maidan". ECM Records. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "Valentin Silvestrov". ECM Records. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "Classical recordings - Search: valentin silvestrov (page 1 of 15)". Presto Music. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
- ^ "Silvestrov: ...flowering Over Lethe..." Presto Music. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
Sources
[edit]- Baley, Virko (2001). "Sil′vestrov, Valentyn Vasil′yovych". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. (subscription, Wikilibrary access, or UK public library membership required)
- Schmelz, Peter J. (2009). Such Freedom, If Only Musical: Unofficial Soviet Music During the Thaw. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-01953-4-193-5.
- Wilson, Samuel (2015). "Valentin Silvestrov and the symphonic movement in ruins". In Guldbrandsen, Erling E.; Johnson, Julian (eds.). Transformations of Musical Modernism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-11071-2-721-0.
Further reading
[edit]- Sonevytsky, Savytsky; Roman, Marko Robert (2011). "Sylvestrov, Valentyn". Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
External links
[edit]- Valentin Silvestrov on Bandcamp
- Valentin Silvestrov artist page on ECM Records
- Valentin Silvestrov composer page on Schott
- “Valentin Silvestrov: music at the edge of farewell” (Gramophone, April 17, 2025)
- 1937 births
- Living people
- Musicians from Kyiv
- Ukrainian classical composers
- Ukrainian male composers
- Ukrainian film score composers
- Ukrainian classical pianists
- Ukrainian male classical pianists
- Soviet classical composers
- Soviet male classical composers
- Soviet film score composers
- Soviet classical pianists
- Recipients of the Shevchenko National Prize
- ECM Records artists
- Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 4th class
- Ukrainian avant-garde
- Kyiv Conservatory alumni