Remarkable event for Zhytomyr is a concert of Liubomyr Melnyk. Known all over the world author of “Continuous music” style, the fastest pianist has played three compositions on Zhytomyr Philharmonic Hall’s stage.
“I always think about thanking God for these things. It’s not just typical music, I feel it physically.”
“Was Richter born in Zhytomyr? Wow! They’ve always been presenting him as a Russian pianist. Litoshinskii as well? I think, he is incredible. I know his stringed quartet, it’s a great level of music!”
“Kids in Ukraine are scarily serious, they are studying music so. Those kids, who want to perform on stage and play best, they will”
“Once I played in Lviv, there were no many people; nobody knew me and my music. However, nowadays I play better, than I used to 20 years ago.”
“This work, Windmills, is a kind of prayer, when soul and body is filled with light. Playing Continuous music, especially Windmills is kind of being near sky. It’s hard to play it, but it’s needed.”
“If I don’t play, I’m kind of dead. You know, I feel being alive and normal now. When I play, I feel better, like someone gave me all money in the world.”
“You mustn’t eat, drink alcohol, have sex or do something. You have to be clean for inner power to be alive. Music lets it be alive.”
“I want to teach kids Continuous music, open school, but have no idea when and where. Would it be better in Ukraine? Because it’s cheap, you can buy some old school here.”
“God saved us: told mom to run, she took dad and sister and both ran for the last train, but Bolsheviks closed borders. I wasn’t born yet so we travelled to Germany.”
“Dad is from Kolomyia, but I don’t know about mom, she was an orphan. The only thing I know, that she had an exceptional family, very musical and spiritual people. My father has never listened to music. Never ever. He even didn’t like it.”
“I’m happy now to have concerts.”
“Why were Richter and Rubinstein kind? They were sitting for 8 hours; 8 hours they were working like Rocky. People don’t understand that pianist, as a practician, is a sportsman as well.”
Such stories were told by a modest man with an appearance of village priest and hands of hard worker, professor of Philosophy in Sweden, born in refugee camp, honest Ukrainian – Liubomyr Melnyk.
Translated by Aliona Matushevich