Olga Serebriyskaya: "To fight and look for, find and not to be given"

This year to the Orenburg municipal chamber chorus of Olga Serebriyskaya twenty years are executed. To list its achievements and awards it is possible indefinitely. The chorus went on tour in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Odessa, Perelada (Spain), Palermo, Bergamo, Brescia (Italy) both other Russian and European cities. I collected the Grand Prix and the first places of the most grandiose musical festivals — from the choral Tonen-2000 festival in the Netherlands (where residents of Orenburg became owners of a special prize of "Winner" in all three main nominations) to a victory at the International competition "The Singing World" in St. Petersburg.

During participation in the prestigious festival "Christmas Musical Meetings in St. Petersburg" the Orenburg chorus gave concerts and on the occasion of the 300 anniversary of St. Petersburg in philharmonic hall, a church and the Throne-room of the memorial estate of Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo. As the musical director of a festival people's artist of Russia winner of the State awards Yury Temirkanov noted then, "… performance of the Orenburg chorus became one of bright, remarkable events of a festival. High performing culture, skill, thin feeling of music of different styles, bright emotionality and enthusiasm inherent in collective were appreciated by numerous Petersburg public".

We talk to the permanent artistic director and the conductor of chorus — Olga Stanislavovna Serebriyskaya, the honored worker of arts of the Russian Federation, professor of chair of choral conducting of the Orenburg state institute of arts of a name L. and M. Rostropovichey.

— Olga Stanislavovna, our chorus was fallen in love in the northern capital long ago, and after all recognition of the Petersburg public — this recognition from capital letter. Quite recently you again returned from St. Petersburg …

— After we last time won the International competition "The Singing World", us already invite to St. Petersburg not to competitions, and with tours. In this city we sing already for the ninth or tenth time, and didn't remain any considerable Petersburg hall in which wouldn't sing our chorus.

This year we already for the fourth time acted in very prestigious hall of the St. Petersburg philharmonic hall of Shostakovich. At first participated in the International St. Petersburg easter festival, then — in the 49th International festival "Petersburg Musical Spring". It were two grandiose concerts, after all we carried with ourselves 35 compositions, 18 of which the premieres which are specially written by composers.

Our first concert consisted of two offices. The first included music known, very sign for St. Petersburg and all Russia of the composer Yury Falik who died in 2009. The second office was devoted to Falik's pupil — to Sergey Ekimov with whom we are on friendly terms. This is rather young composer and the choral figure, the director of The Singing World festival, the head of female chorus who brings the Grand Prix from all possible competitions. We sang its new and old works.

— Difficult music?

— In general, the Petersburg music very difficult — distinguished, painful. Besides, composers very often take difficult verses. In this case there were Gumilyov, Akhmatova, Tsvetaeva, García Lorca's verses. Comprehension of such poetry already in itself is difficult, and set to music — it is more difficult doubly. But the effect was tremendous because we like! That confirmed our high level, after all this music, this poetry can't be sung by any of choruses, even the quite talented. Here special education, education, understanding is necessary.

After an easter festival we participated in the 49th International festival "Petersburg Musical Spring" which took place from May 12 to May 28. We received the invitation to it even in the fall. Shostakovich stood at the origins of this festival, and today it the chairman of the Union of composers Grigory Korchmar who kindly invited us directs and gave the very difficult music on Igor Severyanin's verses and at once us warned that the St. Petersburg composers will want to hear the music which else nobody heard in our execution. And we prepared within a year: received notes from authors, studied, diligent worked.

At a concert we executed works of such modern composers as Sergey Slonimsky, Vladislav Uspensky, Andrey Petrov, Vladimir Polyakov and others. We maintain cordial relations with many of them. So, Sergey Slonimsky (whom I consider one of two chief composers of the present living nowadays, together with Rodion Shchedrin) personally came to us to rehearsal and brought notes. We are also on friendly terms with Igor Kornelyuk. Several times were on a visit: and houses, and in recording studio.

That is surprising, during our concerts of halls was full. The Petersburg public very experienced, it is the extremely difficult to surprise it, but here it simply stormed in "bravo".

— And in general, what of the works executed in twenty years by your chorus was the most outstanding and the most difficult?

— All most difficult is connected, of course, with the maestro Rostropovich. In the fall of 1996 the chorus took part in concert statement of a premiere of the opera of D. Shostakovich "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk district" together with chorus of Gosteleradio, an orchestra of the St. Petersburg philharmonic hall, soloists of the Bolshoi theater and the Danish Royal opera under the leadership of Mstislav Rostropovich. We acted in a hall of the Moscow state conservatory of P. I. Tchaikovsky. It was huge responsibility!

And summer of 2001 we participated in joint concerts with the maestro Rostropovich at a festival of stars of world size of the musical art devoted to J. Verdi in the Spanish city of Perelada. There we with great success gave solo concert office of the Russian sacred music and together with Rostropovich and soloists of the Lithuanian national symphonic orchestra executed Sofya Gubaidulina's work for 24-part chorus and solo violoncellos "The anthem to Saint Francis Assizscy's sun" .poluchat notes from authors, studied, diligent worked.

All say that the chorus constantly develops. Perhaps, therefore we also seek to growth, after all at the beginning of a way we had serious achievements. The chorus simply has no way back.

— What actions are planned by chorus in this year, anniversary for it?

— The main action for us — the City Day. Our concert which thundered in St. Petersburg was called "Orenburg — St. Petersburg". My present idea goes in the same direction. As we now in a good form, plan to sing this concert on the City Day and to call its "St. Petersburg — Orenburg". In the northern capital we sang with people's artists, including with the main baritone of St. Petersburg — the soloist of Mikhaylovsky theater Boris Pinkhasovich. I will be happy if we manage to bring to Orenburg these actors, especially the composer Ekimov.

Besides, we conceive the tremendous project of a concert together with the Italian conductor, the French orchestra and chorus "Paris Polifonika". However, so far on it there is no money. But for us it would be the remarkable gift.

— Olga Stanislavovna, whether it is possible to tell, what you devoted life to of what dreamed since the childhood?

— Probably, after all not. In the childhood I aspired to absolutely another. My father — the veteran. During war he was the correspondent of Sovinformburo, worked in the Berlin newspaper. He was an example for me and my friend. Studying at school, we dreamed to become intelligence agents — intended to go to Moscow, to finish MGIMO … And then the father had a heart attack. In 15 years I went to receive a profession (it was terrible to remain without father), came to the Orenburg musical school, graduated from conservatory, postgraduate study. Especially as before eyes there was the sister pianist's example. So it didn't manage to me to become the intelligence agent. But I now also don't think that everything could develop differently.

Twenty years ago, when our chorus was created, there were few people believing that soon it will become the real force. But they were, and I am very grateful to them. I consider that it were great years: the beginning of the 90th when people had nothing to eat, a salary didn't pay for months, and our chorus worked for free the first two years absolutely. It is worth a lot. Interestingly, what exactly the strongest creative collectives of our city were created at this time. When we achieved that put chorus on the state basis, to us spoke: "Teachers a salary aren't paid, and you that want?". We answered: "And for what during war theaters were created?". Probably, when it is rather difficult for the person, he tries to support himself spiritually. And such business as ours, always helps out.

Quiz

Favourite place in the city: Zauralny grove.

Favourite movie: Pavel Lungin's "island".

Favourite book: In the childhood — "Two captains" of Veniamin Kaverin, recently — "Memories of my sister" Anastasia Tsvetaeva.

Favourite aphorism, the motto on life: "The road which is passed, is always easier than that which is necessary". And across Kaverin: "To fight and look for, find and not to be given".