For peace & in style

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For peace & in style

17.05.2016 / by Emilia / 0

Culture and Fashion is the focus of this magazine. And indeed, when they meet, special moments occur. On rare occasions, culture and fashion is further combined with a greater porpoise, such as sustainability or peace. The result is a memorable and also a valuable experience.

Such was the case when the “Orchestra for the Peace” played in the Tonhalle concert hall in Zurch on Thursday 05 May. In the sold out Grand Hall, 1’500 guests witnessed a rich and interesting performance, in style and with meaning.

The Orchestra for Peace is the brainchild of Swiss Director Gunhard Mattes (1957). The conductor grew up in the city of Zurich, in modest circumstances. At the age of 15, he founded a chamber ochestra. Trained as an oboist at André Raoult in Zurich and Heinz Holliger at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, he completed his studies with the teacher’s diploma and a concert diploma. He became famous as the founder and head of the Ukrainian Symphony Orchestra. His new ensemble is “The Women Orchestra of Switzerland”. This newly founded symphony is the first in Switzerland with exclusively female cast. The musicians are young talents with international awards.

Living in the Ukraine for over 10 years, he experienced the Russian Ukrainian conflict first hand – and he decided to become active. His Orchestra for Peace calls for a peaceful solution. The musicians are Russian and Ukrainian. So are the composers, including Prokofiev and Shostakovich, Leontovich and Bortniansky. All the financial rewards of the evening were donated in favour of children who suffered. For Mattes this is ‘not just another orchestra, but rather my way to try and make a contribution’.

And he seems to succeed. The concert was rich and diverse – confirmed by a standing ovation.

Pleased of the evening Mattes comments: “All the three performances we had with the Orchestra for Peace were characterised by high quality and rich emotions. The young musicians from Russia and the Ukraine excite the public – something not seen that often in places like the Tonhalle”.

The orchestra offered lasting musical memories. The musicians show on stage how Russians and Ukrainians can excel together. After their last concert they complimented their conductor, stating they found both peace and new friends. With the rewards of their three performances, 100 children will be able to take a time out and recover in a conflict free area.

Röbi Koller, well know from Swiss national TV, introduced and accompanied the musical performance. He interviewed Mattes and the four soloists. Saxophonist Valeriya Bernikova is from the Ukraine. Lyudmila Mikhaylova (Oboe) and Anastasia Kuznetsov (Piano) are Russian. Vasilisa Zakharoshka (Violin), is from Belorussia. Together, these three form the “TriAngels” trio.

One of the most inspiring pieces played must have been the one witten by Ukraine’s Mikola Leontovich, Yurii Lanjuk called “Schedrik”. It was performed as the last piece before the break, and again, in a different version, as a bonus piece at the very end. It is the rhythmic, diverse and soulful National Ukrainian “carol of the bells”.

Equally impressive was a modern and vivid piece called ‘Sternenberg – Star Mountain’. Performed by the “Tri Angels” and written by Pianist Anastasia Kuznetsov (1990) herself. It is her sixth peace, ‘stands for the relationship between man and nature’ and was performed with an orchestra for the first time.

Sternenberg was a sparkling cocktail of music and fashion.

The TriAngels wore elegant, natural silk dresses by designer Emillia Spasskaia. The dresses were hand made for the trio’s performance.

Emilia Spasskaia is a Russian designer who recently moved to Zurich. She studied Alta-Moda during the 3 years she lived in Rome. Emilia calles her style “classy”, combining chic and elegance. She works with fine fabrics and gives her dresses stylish and provoking connotations. Her dresses are tailored to measure, based on a the baseline designs that make for her collections. Asked on her approach to work, she says: “I want to make woman look good, wear quality at a fair price”. For her, the Orchestra for Peace “was a perfect occasion to make my own contribution and at the same time make these talented and beautiful women stand out”.

Emilia’s has done dresses for clients in Russia, as well as Kuala-Lumpur, Singapore, Monte-Carlo and Rome. She gets inspired by: “nature, textures and architecture”. She measures and tailors to each client herself, and works with selected Italian seamstresses.

These were not Emilia’s first dresses for important occasions, but the first time she designed for musicians. “This did bring some extra challenges with respect to cut and materials’ she admits. ‘It is also particularly important for them to feel comfortable, given the performance they need to deliver”.

Given the outright positive response received, Gunhard Mattes decided to continue with the Orchestra for Peace. His goal is to ‘spread the message that human conflict can be solved in a human way’ – in his artistic way – to other conflict areas. For this, he plans to work with the UN. The Tri Angels look forward to further performances as a trio and a part of the Orchestra for Peace. They are more than happy with their new outfits. The classy dresses – a style winner.