National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine

PROGRAM:
- Dmitry Bortniansky: "Sinfonia" Overture from Il Quinto Fabio
- Jean Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
- Interval
- Maxim Berezovsky: Our Father, arr. Sirenko
- Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
Volodymyr Sirenko, Artistic Director & Chief Conductor
Maya Wichert, violin

Formed by the Council of Ministers of Ukraine in November of 1918, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is considered one of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe. Its founding conductor was Oleksandr Horilyj. Natan Rachlin was Artistic Director from 1937 until 1962; Stefan Turchak, Volodymyr Kozhukhar, Fedir Hlushchenko, Igor Blazhkov and Theodore Kuchar subsequently served as Principal Conductors.

Other conductors who worked with the NSOU include Kostiantyn Simeonov, Leopold Stokowski, Igor Markevitch, Kurt Sanderling, Kiril Kondrashin, Kurt Masur, Hermann Abendroth and Willy Ferrero. Soloists who performed with the NSOU include Artur Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, David Oistrakh, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Emil Gilels, Leonid Kogan, Gidon Kremer, Oleh Krysa, Monserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli and Juan Diego Flores. The NSOU premiered works by Borys Liatoshynsky, Valentyn Sylvestrov, Myroslav Skoryk and Evhen Stankovych.

The Orchestra has gained international recognition through touring and recordings. The NSOU has toured Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.

Since 1993 the NSOU has released more than 100 sound recordings covering Ukrainian and international repertoire. In 1994 the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) rated the NSOUs recording of Borys Liatoshynskys Symphonies No. 2 and No. 3 as "The Best Recording of the Year." Their CD of Sylvestrovs "Requiem for Larissa" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005; their recording of Bloch and Lees Violin Concertos was nominated for another Grammy Award four years later.

Volodymyr Sirenko has been the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the NSOU since April of 1999. Alexander Hornostai has served as Managing Director and Producer since June of 2006.