Sandwiched in between Christmas and New Year, Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists are performing at the grand Emirates Palace on December 26. Having had a very active and fruitful career as a conductor, violist, artistic director and violinist we spoke to the world-renowned Yuri about his upcoming performance in Abu Dhabi.
Tell us about some of your most memorable moments from your career
You know, I really have had such a long career that there have been plenty of such memorable moments. I was the first violist in the world to have played solo concerts in the greatest halls of the world: Carnegie Hall in New York, La Scala, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Golden Hall of Myuzikferayn in Vienna and many others. No one believed that the concerts of a violist could gather the audience in these halls. The only thing that upsets me is that in most venues around the world, I still remain today the only viola player who continues to have recitals there.
What advice can you give to people who would love to have a career like yours?
It is very difficult to give a piece of advice that will solve all problems. Certainly one should practise a lot. I mean not only directly playing a musical instrument, but also profession of a musician in the broadest sense of the word. Listen and hear the music, feel it. It is very important to have something to give people from the stage during a concert. Music and performance of music at a concert is a very living process. Of course, you need some luck, as in all things you do. And you are also going to need show an incredible desire and perseverance.
We all know that people must give up some things to make a name for themselves in the professional arena. Can you tell us about some things that you have sacrificed for your career?
I’m often asked this question, but I can’t say that I had to sacrifice anything. Music to me is life, love, tenderness, sadness. I can afford to do in life my favourite thing, get enormous pleasure from it and be able to make a living doing what I really appreciate and what I love the most. Of course, as a child I, like all the boys, enjoyed playing football, cycling. But I had a brilliant mother. She never forced me to do anything. It’s probably for this reason that making music has never been a burden to me.
Is this your first time playing in the UAE?
If we’re talking about a full serious concert, then yes. I will perform for the first time in the UAE and it’s very exciting. This is my musical journey to a new country and new listeners. That always delivers many new positive emotions to me. I am particularly pleased that this year the Chamber Orchestra Moscow Soloists celebrates its 20th anniversary. And in connection with this anniversary, we spend a year on an unprecedented world tour, in which the orchestra plays concerts on all continents. And so it turns out that the upcoming concert in Abu Dhabi synchronises with our world tour.
How do you hope your music will make people feel here when listening to it?
I’m sure that the music will make it possible for people to feel the same here as in other countries. Music is very international in nature. People also feel sadness and necessity, love and pain, joy and sorrow. If you are sincere on stage, the audience always begins to empathise with you.
What is your favourite piece of music to play?
I do not have one favourite work. I play plenty of different music. Last year I played 226 concerts. That is a lot, believe me, because you need time to fly and rehearse as well. My favourite music and favourite composers change throughout different periods. At some point I endlessly listen to Brahms and Tchaikovsky, then it’s Mozart as my favourite composer, but I love the rest no less.
What message would you like to give your fans in the UAE?
I would like them to sympathise with what we will play at the concert. We have a wonderful, very bright and festive programme. I am confident that the upcoming concert will become festive and a memorable performance for us and for the public. We will be very happy to see all at the concert.
Doors open at 7pm. Tickets cost from Dhs250-550 and are available from www.timeouttickets.com.
