Arts and Entertainment

National Symphony of Ukraine and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky to perform Feb. 11

The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine will make its Penn State debut at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 in Eisenhower Auditorium with a program featuring Dmytro Bortnyansky’s Concert Symphony in B-flat Major, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in F Major. Credit: Photo providedAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Volodymyr Sirenko, will perform works by Camille Saint-Saëns and Johannes Brahms in concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, in Eisenhower Auditorium. Piano soloist Volodymyr Vynnytsky will join the ensemble for the Saint-Saëns concerto.

The orchestra’s Penn State-debut program will include Dmytro Bortnyansky’s Concert Symphony in B-flat Major, Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 in F Major.

Founded in 1918 and based in Kiev, the orchestra has performed world premieres by Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich and other prestigious composers. Since 1993, the ensemble has recorded more than 100 albums, two of which were nominated for Grammy Awards.

Watch pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky perform Johannes Brahms’ Sonata in F minor, No. 3, Op. 5. Credit: Amoxxoma

“This is an orchestra with many virtues,” wrote a reviewer for the Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald. “Its strings can conjure up a vibrant songfulness; the woodwinds have a fruity, penetrating ripeness; the brass could endanger the walls of Jericho; the percussion might wake the dead.”

Ukrainian pianist Vynnytsky, laureate of the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Piano Competition in Paris, has performed with leading orchestras and in solo recitals at many of the world’s prominent concert halls. “The pianist is simply superb,” wrote a reviewer for American Record Guide. Vynnytsky has had visiting faculty posts at various universities and is now the director of chamber music at the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

Sirenko, also a native of Ukraine, has been artistic director and chief conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine since 1999. Off the stage, he is a professor of opera and symphonic conducting at the National Music Academy of Ukraine.

Visit the Center for the Performing Arts online or call 814-863-0255 or more information.

Artistic Viewpoints, an informal moderated discussion featuring a visiting artist or artists, is offered in Eisenhower one hour before the performance and is free for ticket holders. Artistic Viewpoints regularly fills to capacity, so seating is available on a first-arrival basis.

Designer’s Studio sponsors the performance. Kish Bank provides additional support. The Dotty and Paul Rigby Classical Music Endowment also provides support.

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Last Updated April 15, 2021

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