MELODIES OF THE SLAVONIC SOUL
(literature newspaper)

Recently there has been released “The Anthology of The Classical Music”, the disk that includes genuine masterpieces of the best Belarusian composers. Their creative work emanates originality along with the traditions of the great predecessors. Classics and folklore, which unite in the souls of the composers to form a whole, impart some sense of unique charm to their music.
At the interview with Mikhail Snitko the problem of the artistic cooperation of the Belarusian and Russian musicians has been discussed. Mikhail Snitko is the conductor of the philharmonic orchestra who did everything in his power for the art works of the contemporary Belarusian composers to be collected in “The Anthology”.
- Mr. Snitko, isn’t it symbolic that the disk, that contains the treasures of the Belarusian music, was released in Moscow?
- This fact is of great importance to me. Like many other Belarusian conductors, composers, and performers, I have been improving my knowledge and skills in Moscow – I have a lot of friends here. Minsk and Moscow have always been closely related to each other as the centers of the Slavonic musical culture.
- The Standing Committee of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Belarusian friendly association of the people in Moscow contribute a great deal, as far as spiritual area is concerned, to the strengthening of the ties between the most akin brethren nations. What hopes do you pin on it?
- Generous deeds in the spiritual area promote mutual enrichment of nations and their cultures. I was born in Slutskij Region, graduated from Belarusian State Music Academy and acquired the profession of “an opera and symphony conductor”, worked on probation in Conservatory of St. Petersburg as well as in Russian Bolshoj Theatre, developed my mastership at the post-graduate course in Moscow State Conservatory under the direction of the national artist of the USSR Gennadij Rozhdestvenskij. Once I worked in Altai and Siberia; lately I have appeared on stage in Belgorod, Ulyanovsk, Nizhni Novgorod and Petrozavodsk. And wherever I have been to, I have always made certain of unremitting mutual interest. I think the strengthening of the ties between the ministers of the Union State muses will lead to the flourishing of the Slavonic art. I am the conductor of the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of The Republic of Belarus. “The Anthology of the Belarusian Classical Music” was recorded on the performance of The State Symphony Orchestra of Russian TV and Radio during two concerts at the International Musical Festival “The Present to the three-hundredth anniversary of St. Petersburg”. And there are many more examples of such a fruitful cooperation.
- Igor Luchenok seems to be the most popular of the fourteen contemporary Belarusian composers presented in “The Anthology”. A lot of people are familiar with his creative work by such songs as “Zuravli Na Polesye Letyat”, “Verasyi”, “Alesyi”, “Pamyit Serdtsa”, “Vyisokie Zvyozdyi”. Who else is presented in “The Anthology”?
- In May at the Musical Festival “Russia-Belarus” we are presenting the creative work of the outstanding contemporary composers: the national artist of the USSR Igor Luchenok and the director of the Association of the Artistic Unions in the CIS Vladimir Dashkevich. In the preface to “the Anthology” the chief of the Belarusian Union of Composers Igor Luchenok said: “Many musical pieces of art by our composers can be heard on different continents. Belarusian composers take part and quite often win in international contests”. Along with the genre diversity, the creative work of Belarusian musical workers is different by the faithfulness to the customs and traditions.
The musical compositions by the National prize-winners of the USSR and Belarus, the national artists Eugenij Glebov and Anatolij Bogatyiryov, who passed away recently, still arouse great interest. Andrej Mdivani is famous for his symphony “Polesskiye Pesmena” which tells us about spiritual deeds performed by Efrosiniya Polotskaya, Simeon Polotski, Frantisk Skarina. The National prize-winner Professor Vyacheslav Kuznetsov, the author of such operas as “Kastus Kalinovskij”, “Moya rodina” as well as of vocal cycles and romances, is also presented in “the Anthology” with his ballet “Adazhio” that follows the best classical traditions.
-What can you say about the creative work of young composers?
- Such young in age, but already mature masters Eugenij Poplavskij and Oleg Khodosko are also included into the project. Poplavskij is the author of the cantata “Kolokola moyej Rusi” based on the verses by Fet and the cycle of romances based on the verses by Pushkin. In “the Anthology” he is presented with his musical composition for the symphony orchestra “Boginya Lunyi” that is dedicated to Helen Leschinskoj. There one can find the beauty of the night scenery, a wonderful feminine image. Khodosko is famous for his cantatas “Pesni Beloj Rusi”, “Liturgiya Ioanna Zlatousta”, “Vsenoschnoye bdeniye”. The symphony “Belaya Rus” is filled with a spiritual motet, tolling of bells, with the melodies of pop songs, including “Mayiskij vals” by Luchenok. Oleg must be the youngest laureate of the Belarusian National prize.
- My congratulations to the authors, performers and to you, Mr. Snitko, on the release of “the Anthology”. It has become an outstanding event in the spiritual life of the Slavs. What do you think, what actions will help us to turn the young people to the eternal values, classics, folklore?
- Fashion is transient, and genuine art doesn’t become out of date. Pay attention to the design of the disk. It’s not a matter of coincidence that it illustrates the reproduction of the picture by Ilia Repin “Belorus”. One feels like peering into it. The painter spent a lot of time in the remote Belarusian places, admired picturesque views, as well as originality of the nation. Unfortunately, at the present moment in Belarus and especially in Russian an overwhelming quantity of entertaining music can be heard both on the air and on the stage. We should contribute to the promotion of the talented and perfect things in music. The state should be the attribute in the social education, should encourage the creative work of the native composers, and should care about national identity.

Interview is conducted by
Valentin Suchovskij