Contemporary Ukrainian Virtuosity in a Context

Violinist Orest Smovzh, based in Helsinki, presents an evening of bold and thought-provoking music that reimagines what solo violin playing can be in the 21st century. At the heart of the program are three newly-commissioned Ukrainian works—world premieres written in 2024—that stretch the boundaries of traditional virtuosity by embracing fragility, introspection, and theatricality.

These new caprices and études are placed in dialogue with works by European composers who similarly challenge the historical ideals of technical showmanship. The result is a concert that invites listeners to reconsider what it means to be virtuosic today—not only in terms of speed and dexterity, but also in expressive nuance, risk-taking, and emotional depth.

Throughout the performance, Smovzh offers insights and commentary, guiding the audience through the music’s ideas and contexts.

Orest Smovzh, violin

Program:
Sander Germanus — Capriccio voor genoeg vioolsnaren (1999)
David Gorton — Caprice I, Rosetta (2006)
Roger Redgate — Caprice VI (2020)
Alexey Shmurak — Lust Study (2024) (World premiere)
Alisa Zaika — Geo’s Avtoportet, caprice for violin and voice (2024) (World premiere)
Maxym Ivanov — 15 Little Caprices (2024) (World premiere)
Jouni Hirvelä — Micro Caprice (2024) (Dutch premiere)
Alisa Zaika — Dinosaur Caprice (2024) (Dutch premiere)
Lauri Supponen — paleoglaciology or a study of layers and textures in cylindrical form (2024)
Kalle Autio — Couch – the Zeno Cosini Tapes (2020) (Dutch premiere)

This program is part of Orest Smovzh’s ongoing artistic research on contemporary virtuosity at the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki. The Ukrainian works were commissioned as part of the Per Forma grant program by Kyiv Contemporary Music Days, supported by the Performing Arts Fund NL and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands.