'Great that Composers like Alexey Shor are Writing Tonal Music', says Roman Kim
Gulf Network
The
InClassica International Music Festival
will soon be returning to Dubai from
April 6th to 21st, 2025
, celebrating its 14th annual edition with an extraordinary lineup of world-renowned soloists, conductors, and orchestras. Taking place at the prestigious
Dubai Opera
, this year's festival holds special significance as it marks the
55th birthday of Composer-in-Residence
Alexey Shor
, a prolific artist who is hailed amongst the most influential voices in the contemporary classical music scene. Among the star performers gracing the stage at this edition is the celebrated violinist
Roman Kim
, who will headline the festival's opening concert on April 6th.
Kim, widely regarded as one of the most innovative violinists of his generation, expressed his excitement at joining the festival, stating that 'I'm very honored and very happy to be part of this festival, to open it, and to perform on stage with such great musicians. It's a truly special occasion, and I'm really excited!'
For his performance at InClassica, Kim will be collaborating with the
Franz Schubert Filharmonia
under the baton of the esteemed UK conductor
John Warner
. Reflecting on this upcoming partnership, Kim noted that 'I have never performed with the Franz Schubert Filharmonia before, so it will be an incredible experience for me. I'm really looking forward to playing with them at this festival.'
Alexey Shor, InClassica Composer-in-Residence
As InClassica continues to expand classical music's reach in the Middle East, this edition will highlight the works of Alexey Shor, celebrating his rich legacy and plentiful contributions to contemporary classical music. Kim, who has previously performed Alexey Shor's works, shared his appreciation for the composer's distinct musical style, noting that 'it is great that some composers today are still writing in tonal music, rather than atonal. Alexey Shor is writing tonal music, and I admire such a creative activity very much, because musical art is the most beautiful art and it has the capacity to save the world!'
Kim's April 6th performance will feature Shor's Violin Concerto No. 2, 'Phantasms', a work that blends lyrical expressiveness with virtuosic flair. Speaking about the concerto, Kim remarked that, 'I have already performed part of this piece—'Flight of the Falcon'—and I think it's a fantastic idea to incorporate it into a full concerto. I'm very happy to be one of the performers bringing this work to life.'
Beyond his participation in InClassica 2025, Kim has a busy year ahead with a host of performances, masterclasses, and projects. 'I have many exciting projects this year,' he said. 'I will be playing twelve concerts in Munich, featuring traditional repertoire, as well as performances in Taiwan, Romania, Italy, France, and more. In China, I'll be sitting on the jury of an international competition this July, and I will also be giving many summer academies and masterclasses, as well as concerts of course. Additionally, I'm working on launching my own violin string company, as I've been producing my own strings for many years. It's a lot of work, but I'm very excited!'
For more information about InClassica 2025, Roman Kim's performance and Composer-in-Residence Alexey Shor visit
inclassica.com
today.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
18 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Why a Minneapolis neighbourhood sharpens a giant pencil every year
Residents will gather on Saturday (June 14) in a scenic Minneapolis neighbourhood for an annual ritual -- the sharpening of a gigantic No. 2 pencil. The 20-foot-tall (6-metre-tall) pencil was sculpted out of a mammoth oak tree at the home of John and Amy Higgins. The beloved tree was damaged in a storm a few years ago when fierce winds twisted the crown off. Neighbours mourned. A couple even wept. But the Higginses saw it not so much as a loss, but as a chance to give the tree new life. The sharpening ceremony on their front lawn has evolved into a community spectacle that draws hundreds of people to the leafy neighborhood on Lake of the Isles, complete with music and pageantry. Some people dress as pencils or erasers. Two Swiss alphorn players will provide part of this year's entertainment. The hosts will commemorate a Minneapolis icon, the late music superstar Prince, by handing out purple pencils on what would have been his 67th birthday. In the wake of the storm, the Higginses knew they wanted to create a sculpture out of their tree. They envisioned a whimsical piece of pop art that people could recognize, but not a stereotypical chainsaw-carved, north-woods bear. Given the shape and circumference of the log, they came up with the idea of an oversized pencil standing tall in their yard. "Why a pencil? Everybody uses a pencil," Amy Higgins said. "Everybody knows a pencil. You see it in school, you see it in people's work, or drawings, everything. So, it's just so accessible to everybody, I think, and can easily mean something, and everyone can make what they want of it." Artist Curtis Ingvoldstad touches up his 20-foot-tall pencil sculpture ahead of its annual sharpening in Minneapolis recently. AP So they enlisted wood sculptor Curtis Ingvoldstad to transform it into a replica of a classic Trusty brand No. 2 pencil. "People interpret this however they want to. They should. They should come to this and find whatever they want out of it," Ingvoldstad said. That's true even if their reaction is negative, he added. "Whatever you want to bring, you know, it's you at the end of the day. And it's a good place. It's good to have pieces that do that for people." John Higgins said they wanted the celebration to pull the community together. "We tell a story about the dull tip, and we're gonna get sharp," he said. "There's a renewal. We can write a new love letter, a thank you note. We can write a math problem, a to-do list. And that chance for renewal, that promise, people really seem to buy into and understand." To keep the point pointy, they haul a giant, custom-made pencil sharpener up the scaffolding that's erected for the event. Like a real pencil, this one is ephemeral. Every year they sharpen it, it gets a bit shorter. They've taken anywhere from 3 to 10 inches (8 to 25 centimetres) off a year. They haven't decided how much to shave off this year. They're OK knowing that they could reduce it to a stub one day. The artist said they'll let time and life dictate its form - that's part of the magic. "Like any ritual, you've got to sacrifice something," Ingvoldstad said. "So we're sacrificing part of the monumentality of the pencil, so that we can give that to the audience that comes, and say, 'This is our offering to you, and in goodwill to all the things that you've done this year.' Associated Press
Gulf Today
25-05-2025
- Gulf Today
Shiva Helali Celebrates 'MY DAY' At Cannes Film Festival
Gulf Network During the eventful nights of Cannes Film Festival, the chairwoman and co-founder of 4Ever Properties, Shiva Helali celebrated the private screening and the press conference of 'MY DAY' as she accepted the honorary invitation by Dr. Mia Jan Malekzadeh the film producer and founder of The M Production Company to join the official film panel. Shiva expressed her gratitude and honor being invited to be part of such inspiring and emotional experience and explained that the film was inspired by the silent battles that many young girls face when their personal identities come into conflict with cultural and familial expectations. The story centers on Bayan, a 15-year-old girl living in Denmark, Her journey reflects the broader theme of how youth navigate between tradition and the desire for personal freedom. 'This film is a tribute to the courage it takes to make a when it means standing up for yourself.' Said Dr. Mia Jan. She added 'The success of this experience at Cannes Film Festival encouraged us to take My Day to a range of international film festivals that focus on human rights, youth voices, and emerging filmmakers' Shiva admired the talent and enthusiasm behind making this film, and the inspiring story and battle behind it as she said 'It is true that to me as a businesswoman, the festival is an opportunity to meet my international clients, and investors who gathers at such prestigious luxurious atmosphere, but I couldn't skip the chance of supporting and celebrating the success of MY DAY, for the valuable and inspiring message this film represents and I am excited to extend my support to this initiative in the future and to think of bigger steps towards boosting its success' Both Shiva and Mia Jan agreed that the next step for the film makers should aim to continue building awareness around the themes of MY DAY, open up dialogue, and connect with a global audience. And when compared with the last year's festival Shiva said that 'each year the level of this international festival is getting higher with more implementation of AI and robotic solutions this year, the films and all side events were a must attend for a real added value at each aspect from art and creativity , to business networking and celebrities gatherings '
What's On
23-05-2025
- What's On
Mark your calendars: Dubai Summer Surprises returns this June 2025
Dubai Summer Surprises is gearing up for an unforgettable summer… Temperatures are rising, which means most of us will end up with indoor plans until it's cool enough to venture outdoors. However, to keep that smile on your face, we have some great news: Dubai Summer Surprises is returning this June. Running for 66 days, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy exclusive retail offers and unbeatable bargains from June 27 to August 31, 2025. And this edition is said to be its 'most value-packed edition ever.' We can expect thousands of things to do, see, experience, and explore in Dubai and you can do it all without overspending your dirhams. This edition will include three distinct shopping windows: Summer Holiday Offers (June 27 to July 17), Great Dubai Summer Sale (July 18 to August 10), and Back to School (August 11 to 31). *10 amazing new things to do for your UAE summer wishlist 2025* Expect mall activations, A-list concerts, world-class dining, and even iconic getaways at citywide hotels and attractions. And of course, everyone's favourite Modesh and friends will be around to meet and greet all his fans. Here are some of the highlights over Dubai Summer Surprises 2025 -DSS Opening Weekend: Friday, June 27 to 29 -Adnam Sami at Coca-Cola Arena: Sunday, June 29 -Summer Restaurant Week: Friday, July 4 to 12 –Beat The Heat DXB at Dubai World Trade Centre: Friday, July 4 and 5; July 11 and 12 -Shreya Ghoshal at Dubai World Trade Centre: Saturday, July 19 -Made in Kuwaiti (theatrical play) at Dubai Opera: Friday, August 29 and 30 For shoppers Clear a space in your closet, as you can shop until you drop at exclusive limited-time flash sales, including the 12 Hour Sale and Daily Surprises. And you will even be able to partake in raffles for a chance to win some cool prizes. For experience seekers Looking to spend time with your loved ones? There's plenty of ways to have fun this summer, from staycations at citywide hotels and extended getaways at iconic attractions. And there's more to come… Expect much more to come from concerts, new dining experiences, exclusive retail activations, and much more. For more information, head to website and @DubaiFestivals and of course, stay tuned to > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
