3 questions to Stanislav Kochanovsky

What role does the music play in your life? 

From my early age when I started my professional music life in Glinka-Capella boys choir school, music naturally occupied the biggest part of my life. Let’s say music actually became my life. And now I can’t imagine my life without Music!

Is there anything which can be said only by musical means?

An endless variety of emotions!.. As we know, music begins where words end. Music is a unique language; it does not require any translation or explanation. Music directly affects people on an emotional level. I love Pushkin’s words: »Only Love is above Music, but Love is a Melody«.

What role doe the composers played in the Charity concert  – Tschaikowsky and Strawinsky – play for you? for your life?

Both composers had strong connection with my home town St.Petersburg and Mariinsky Theatre where six operas and two ballets by Tchaikovsky were premiered. Stravinsky’s father, Fedor Stravinsky, was the leading Bass of that time in Mariinsky Opera. I am so proud that I had a chance to sing on that famous stage when I was a child as one of Drei Knaben in Die Zauberflöte. Later I played organ in the orchestra during my Conservatoire years and now I’m coming regularly as a guest conductor in Mariinsky with concerts and operas. Music of both composers occupies a significant part in my repertoire. As a native Russian conductor, I am always happy to be able to relive again and again the diverse palette of colors which can be found in the world of Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky.

Experience Stanislav Kochanovsky conducting the Gürzenich Orchestra for the first time, with music by Tchaikowsky und Strawinsky, Sunday 1. December, Charity concert.