Opening of the Orchestra Season
By Marina Kochetova
In our rapidly changing world, every ethnic community strives to preserve its traditions. After all, traditions bring a certain sense of order to our highly chaotic modern world. For those of us who speak Russian and live far from our ancestral homeland, preserving our traditions takes on particular importance.
We must not lose our identity among Canada’s many ethnic communities, each of which takes pride in its own heritage. It is through traditions that we can preserve the values established and carefully safeguarded by our ancestors over the centuries. We can—and must—make our contribution to Canada, our second homeland, as a multicultural nation that brings together the cultural characteristics of all the peoples who live here. In this way, the unique qualities of each community can become a shared treasure, allowing us to create a harmonious symphony of life together.
Much has been said and written about the mysterious Russian soul. Yet no one has managed to find a definitive answer to the questions surrounding it. Perhaps even a fleeting encounter with the artistic legacy of great Russian culture can bring those who seek it a little closer to understanding its mystery.
Classical music is a kind of magic wand that helps dispel negativity. Scientists have found that musical notes—not metaphorically, but quite literally—can act like a tuning fork, harmonizing cellular vibrations and helping the human body’s functions return to a state of balance. Russian classical music is believed to possess this power to an even greater degree.
Today, the National Arts Centre Orchestra opens its new season with beloved and instantly recognizable works by Russian composers—music endowed with extraordinary healing power. Japanese pianist Makoto Ozone performs Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, followed by Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.
Fortunate indeed are those who have chosen to spend this evening in the company of incomparable Russian classical music.