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RNZ News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
From Siberia to the South Pacific
This audio is not downloadable due to copyright restrictions. Novosibirsk Opera House; Lev Sivkov's home town. Photo: Alexander Klink If Lev Sivkov wasn't a musician, maybe he'd be a farmer. The Siberian-born cellist is in New Zealand to play the solo role in Britten's Cello Symphony with Orchestra Wellington , along with making chamber music as one third of the Levansa Trio. Growing up in Siberia gave him a deep appreciation of nature, something he also enjoys when he comes to New Zealand. It's Sivkov's third visit to Aotearoa. His friendship with fellow Levansa players (New Zealand-based violinist Andrew Beer and pianist Sarah Watkins) has made him more than an occasional fixture in the NZ chamber music scene. The Levansa Trio already has one album out on the Atoll label and there are plans to record another during the cellist's current trip. Levansa Trio: Andrew Beer (vln), Sarah Watkins (pno), Lev Sivkov (cello), Photo: Supplied Wellington Chamber Music Trust Sivkov spoke with RNZ Concert ahead of his gig with Orchestra Wellington, and part-way through his tour with the Levansa Trio. He certainly likes to mix things up. A few weeks back he was leading the cello section of the orchestra of Opernhaus Zürich in a concert performance of Brahms' 4th Symphony. Sivkov met the New Zealand members of the Levansa Trio through an ex-pat Kiwi currently living in Switzerland. This year's tour has already taken the ensemble to Hamilton, and there are also has concerts in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Wairarapa. Sivkov describes Britten's Cello Symphony, which he wrote for the great Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, as a "very intellectual" work, but one which rewards close listening. "It's an old joke about Russian literature: there are books where the reader suffers, there are books where the writer suffers, but when both reader and writer suffer - that is the great book of Russian literature." He suspects Britten had that sense of Russian depth when he wrote the Cello Symphony. Sivkov still has a soft spot for the "tough" old-school Russian teachers of his youth, although he wouldn't necessarily teach his own students that way. Maybe something between the old Russian approach and the more liberal ways of Western Europe. Does he miss Russia? Yes, although if he went back to Novosibirsk he probably wouldn't work as a full-time cellist, maybe he'd take up farming - although he's not exactly sure what sort of farmer he would be. Funnily enough, the last concert of his current NZ tour with the Levansa Trio will be on an apple orchard in Wairarapa. "Perhaps I can discuss farming options when I am there," he jokes. RNZ Concert host Bryan Crump and cellist Lev Sivkov. Photo: RNZ
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
New Zealand String Quartet And Orchestra Wellington To Present A Powerful Shostakovich Anniversary Concert
Two of Aotearoa's oldest classical music organisations, the New Zealand String Quartet (NZSQ) and Orchestra Wellington, are coming together to present the first event in a powerful four-part concert series, 'Shostakovich: UNPACKED,' commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of the composer, Dmitri Shostakovich. The series is presented by the NZSQ and will see the ensemble collaborate with a range of esteemed Wellington artists across four intimate gatherings. Orchestra Wellington will help launch the series with two concerts, hosted at Prefab Hall in Wellington, on Wednesday 9 July at 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Subsequent concerts in the series, spread over five months, will see the NZSQ musicians perform alongside the newly established Antipodes Quartet, the beloved Ghost Trio and celebrated pianist, Jian Liu. 'This significant anniversary has been in our diary for a long time and to celebrate it with our friends at Orchestra Wellington is truly special,' says Charlie Macfarlane, NZSQ General Manager. 'This collaboration will offer audiences a profound, immersive experience and a chance to explore how Shostakovich's music remains deeply relevant today.' Each concert programme features music by Shostakovich and New Zealand composers for a unique range of chamber ensembles. The series opener with Orchestra Wellington will feature Shostakovich's poignant 3rd String Quartet alongside his intensely felt Chamber Symphony, an adaptation of his powerful 8th String Quartet. This latter piece is regularly acknowledged as one of the most profound and intense experiences in classical music. Beyond Shostakovich, the evening will also 'unpack' the music of celebrated composers Alfred Schnittke and Tatiana Riabinkina, offering a fascinating dialogue between Shostakovich's legacy and the voices of contemporary artists in Aotearoa and beyond. Tickets for 'Shostakovich: UNPACKED | NZSQ + Orchestra Wellington' range from $15 to $55, with a special season pass available for all four concerts at $180 per person. Don't miss this unique opportunity to witness the powerful collaboration of the New Zealand String Quartet and Orchestra Wellington as they delve into the raw emotion and enduring significance of Dmitri Shostakovich's music. What: Shostakovich: UNPACKED | NZSQ + Orchestra Wellington When: Wednesday 9th July, 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm Where: Prefab Hall, 14 Jessie Street, Wellington Artists: New Zealand String Quartet + Orchestra Wellington Tickets: $15 - $55, Season Pass (all four concerts): $180
