Articles

http://www.7md.lt/muzika/2017-04-28/virs-musu-tik-dangus

This year composer Arvydas Malcys became 60 years old. This year is a jubilee year for him (although purists of concepts and customs state that jubilees are celebrated once in 25 years, so 60 years would be defined as an anniversary). In any case, it is an occasion for celebration. On 22 April, the author’s concert of symphonic music by Arvydas Malcys was arranged at the hall of the National Philharmonic. Although the real birthday of the composer took place on 22 February, the anniversary concert on 22 April was not less important, because symphonic opuses by A. Malcys were performed by Lithuanian National Symphonic Orchestra where A. Malcys plays a violoncello for many years.

Beyond any doubts, the composer himself thoroughly formed the programme of the concert. It was abundant: each of two parts included an instrumental concert and a symphonic opus, among them – the whole Third symphony „Grünwald“ („Žalgiris“). The author’s concert of Arvydas Malcys was really solid and the audience was provided a chance of listening to music that is not often performed at concert halls.  However, the “biographies” of his works attest that international spread of music creations by A. Malcys is surprisingly broad..

The composer invited to his anniversary concert two eminent soloists – violoncellist Boris Andrianov from Russia and saxophonist Liudas Mockūnas – as well as young orchestra conductor Martynas Stakionis. Because A. Malcys is both a composer and a professional instrumentalist, performers involved in interpretation of his works are very important for him and he is able to work with them.

The programme was started by the Concert for a violoncello and orchestra dedicated to Mstislav Rostropovich. It is symbolic that the premiere of the Concert took place in Kaunas in the year 2009 and the soloist was David Geringas, the tutee of Mstislav Rostropovich, and now Vilnius audience heard the interpretation of the work presented by B. Andrianov, the tutee of Geringas. In such a way, the line of musical affinity Rostropovich – Geringas – Andrianov was kept. It should be recognized that the expression of the violoncellist is really worthy of the spirit of his tutors: the violoncello sounded very expressively. On the other hand, A. Malcys is a violoncellist, so he provides a peculiar notional and musical charge on the soloist. The composer introduced a five-sound refrain in this music work – as if the epigram SLAVA – the shortened name of the Maestro used by his friends. The said refrain is repeated for five times – as a Pray, according to the Author...

Then in the first part of the programme, the Third Symphony „Grünwald“ – „Three Episodes from the Chronicles of That Times” was presented. The symphony was created in the year 2010 on occasion of 600-year anniversary of Grünwald (Žalgiris) Battle. According to literary concert leader musicologist Viktoras Gerulaitis, „Grünwald“ by A. Malcys is a real battle picture, probably, the most striking music work of this type in Lithuanian music. The musicologist is right. Three parts of the symphony („Preparation for the War“, „The Marsh” and “The Battle”) provide majestic music images upon using various tints of the orchestra and interesting acoustic effects. On performance of this work, the talent of orchestra conductor Martynas Stakionis was disclosed. As early as in the period of his studies at Hamburg Academy of Music and Theatre, the young maestro showed himself as a talent conductor both in Lithuania and some foreign states, such as Austria (where, by the way, he was an assistant of Mirga Gražinytė) and Germany. The ability of M. Stakionis to ensure the best sound of the orchestra and create a suggestible acoustic form of the creation by economic and precise gestures is really admirable. By the way, this music is excellently fit for cinema as well. I think, our cinema creators might initiate producing a „block-buster“ „Žalgiris“...

The second part of the programme was started by “Only the Sky Above Us” for a symphonic orchestra. The opus was created in 2003 at a request of M. Rostropovich. The premiere took place in Riga in 2004. It was performed by Latvian National Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Andris Nelsons. The work was presented at the International Competition of composer „Sinfonia Baltica“ and gained the Third Prize..

As A. Malcys writes: „At my homestead, I like lying on the grass and observing the clouds. I feel their magic influence“ Since the times of Debussy, the image of clouds is a particularly popular metaphor for exciting acoustic expressions  in orchestral music. A. Malcys successfully formed an impression of the defined space by inserting heady nostalgic motifs in the music tissue. As the work was dedicated to M.  Rostropovich, a violoncello solo performed by Edmundas Kulikauskas, the prima violoncellist of Lithuanian National Symphonic Orchestra, appears for a short time from the orchestra tissue. The leader of the concert equated the said fragment to a sonnet by Petrarca.

In the end of the programme, the Concert for Soprano Saxophone and orchestra (2004) was presented. As at the premiere in 2007, now the performance was conducted by “lion of Lithuanian jazz” (according to V.Gerulaitis) Liudas Mockūnas. A combination of Improvisation freedom and striking individuality of the soloist with academic manner of orchestra performance formed a lively and attractive contrast and simultaneously disclosed an inclination of A. Malcys to music of “lighter”, non-academic type that maybe will appear in future, for example, in form of a musical comedy. By the way, the last opus created by the composer is „The Master and Margarita“ that expectably will be shown on a scene soon.

What is a composer in our times? It is evident that he (she) is not anymore a hero of romantic times almost equated to gods. Today a composer cannot be equated to a chapel-master of a palace (like Haydn) “baking” symphonies for any important feast at the palace. In our times of individualism, each creator must find the own way and, in addition, answer to him(her)self: what does being a composer mean for me? The attitude of A. Malcys to his avocation and maybe “double” (a creator and a performer) music identity is simple: I think, the today artists should not feel them important or require an appreciation or exclusive attention. They should do the work that is interesting and meaningful for them They are able to do such a work and there are persons that wait for new creations of a creator and are interested in them.” (interviewed by Gintarė Čiuladaitė). The audience of the anniversary concert was really presented by those who wait for creative discoveries and music created by A. Malcys. And the composer seems to be full of new ideas and plans.