THE PART OF TRUTH IS IN GREAT MUSIC

By Viktor Alexandrov, translated by Seraphim Hanisch

The Capital Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of its Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Vladimir Gorbik, gave a concert in the Great Hall of the Moscow Central House of Scientists.

Maestro Gorbik is an Associate Professor on the faculty of the Symphony and Choral Conducting Department at the Peter I. Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. He is a Grammy nominee and he serves as the Regent for the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Moscow’s Alekseevsky District.

The evening’s guests included Archbishop Matthew of Yegoryevsk, who serves as
Governor of the Northeastern and Southeastern Vicariates. The audience comprised parishioners and faithful from many Moscow churches. The subject matter for this concert was the music of the Viennese classics. First, the Capital Symphony Orchestra performed Franz Schubert’s Fifth Symphony, and then it presented Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Fortieth Symphony.

In each of his programs, Maestro Gorbik strives for the most accurate reading of the composer’s text, and he strives to convey the musical thought of each composer to the widest possible circle of listeners. His interpretations attract audiences with his freshness of thought, emotional spontaneity and a positive attitude. In these qualities undoubtedly rest one of the secrets of Maestro Gorbik’s artistic charm. Schubert’s Symphony is transparent and full of truly Mozartian grace. The Orchestra sold the crowd with its diligent focus, smooth sound and coherent ensemble.

The performance of the famous Fortieth Symphony by Mozart in the second half of the program once again revealed the perfection and ideal of the Divine principle in the music of this great Austrian genius. The Orchestra performed this with great enthusiasm, displaying a personal level of engagement with the music; truly enjoying what they were playing. It was also noticeable how Vladimir Gorbik led the musicians with confident and clear movements.

Robert Schumann once noted that Mozart’s Fortieth Symphony possessed “Grecian lightness and grace”. One can only guess what impression this work made on its very first listeners, thanks to the unique harmonic boldness and many other composers’ discoveries with which Mozart so saturated his own score.