« Messiah » not performed – must become part of it

The Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra played in the first concert, Kaunas State Choir and soloists sang, and Petras Bingelis, a maestro of bright memory, conducted. Kaunas Choir will be singing again at the anniversary concert, but this time the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, the International Soloist Quartet, will be accompanied by an Iranian conductor who has acquired his education in his homeland and Germany, currently resulting in Italy Hossein Pishkar. We talk to him about music, life and, of course, a very welcome concert.

– You are an Iranian. The culture of your country has a very deep and old tradition. Traditional Persian music is no exception. How did you turn in the direction of classical music?

– Classical music has very strong positions in Iran. It is true that for a variety of reasons we do not hear about it in the Western world media. When I came to study in Germany, I asked questions that I even thought, « God, what do you know about Iran at all? » Many seemed to think that the Iranians were barbarians. Unfortunately, this is the opinion of media and politicians. Indeed, Iran exists an immensely huge culture of theater and classical music. After all, Tehran’s Symphony Orchestra has been for more than 100 years. There are all opportunities for us for classical music studies. At the age of four, I started learning Persian music playing traditional instruments and my sister played the violin. True, my parents have nothing to do with music, and why we children have turned the path of musicians – a long and hard -to -understand story. It is too long to fit into this conversation, so it is a little intrigue. So, later I started studying at the Carlo Orff School, playing a baroque flute and percussion, combining it with Persian music sciences. At that time, a youth orchestra was formed in Tehran, where my sister played. At the time, I was maybe nine at the time and I once went to their rehearsal, led by curiosity. They played the third part of the 1st Gustav Mahler’s symphony. It was a huge shock to me. Shock. I remember perfectly when I thought, « What kind of music is it? I want to know how it is composed. » I started reading books on the subject and I realized that I wanted to become a conductor. I found out that this would have to study counterparts, harmony and other things that have excellent conditions for studies in Iran – we have a variety of literature that analyzes both Russian, American and European traditions of music.

Unfortunately, there were no symphonic conducting at the time, as the school did not have the funds to maintain the orchestra. Then I chose composition studies and after a while I formed the youth orchestra myself. We played everything from Johann Sebastian Bach to John Cage. I was eighteen at the time. It is true that there was only two left of former members of the orchestra in Tehran. Everyone else has left because if you want to improve, you have to choose abroad. It is already too difficult in our country. For this, there is a political basis – our ruling art is uninteresting. We are not talking about Persian or European music. We are talking about world music – after all, Ludwig van Beethoven is played worldwide. So I also learned German and went to study in Germany. Here I was able to choose conducting studies because I firmly knew that I would be a conductor for a lifetime (although some laughed at it). The price was high, but I did it.

Connection: H. Pishkar compares his relationship to music at first glance. « I just heard her and devoted her all my life, » he says. / S. Photo by S.

– You are still quite young but already well -known conductor. Your employment is huge and the geography of the shows is surprising. How did you find yourself in Kaunas, where will you conduct GF Händel’s oratorio « Messiah » at the 30th Pažaislis Music Festival at the opening concert?

– In my case, I see no difference between young and old – I’m just a musician. Is I widely known – this is decided by others. Of course, I notice the tendency that many world orchestras want young conductors – as soon as they enter the thirds. I think this is the wrong trend. After all, the conductor reaches the maturity much later and at least up to 60 can be considered young. How did I find myself in Kaunas? I think happiness smiled at the coincidence. I had to conduct a number of concerts and opera productions with the Danish Royal Orchestra. A couple of years ago I had a very intense season and finally, in July, I could have relaxed a little bit. Together with his fiancé, we went on vacation to the island in her native Italy. And suddenly – my manager’s call. « Listen, I’m on vacation, leave me alone, » I said. – « Well, yes, but you know, one very prominent conductor, who had to conduct the premiere of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera » Tito’s Modness « , became seriously ill and refused. The first rehearsal is two weeks later. As I ask you in the name of the orchestra – come and save us from this tricky situation. ” I felt tired, I needed a rest, summer, vacation, and here were two weeks for all the huge scores.

I came to Copenhagen and there I met a tenor with whom we found a common language at once. He is Edgar Montvid, who sang his party amazingly, and our perception of music turned out to be extremely related. We discussed a lot about music, repertoire and decided that we had to keep in touch. A year ago, I received an invitation from Edgar to conduct a Pažaislis Music Festival. He told me, « Could you do the » Messiah « with us? For my part, I said to him, « Messiah » is not what to do. Being part of this creative process is a great honor. ” I have been welcoming the invitation for the first time.

– Will this be your first touch to this score?

– Yes, I will conduct the work for the first time, even though I know the material well, I had to assist with renowned conductors more than once in preparation of the Messiah. However, because of great respect for this piece, I was looking forward to the right moment when I can finally get to the console. I always thought it took time for this piece. It should be well studied. I did this: I was in contact with well -known conductors who have repeatedly conducted this oratorio, we talked about phrasing, voices, stories. Sometimes it happens that the works come to the conductor themselves and do not need to be forced to pursue them. So, when I got an Edgar call, I thought – time. Yes, it will be a premiere for me, but not a simple premiere – « Messiah » is not in itself a simple creation, and in this case I do not know anything: neither the choir nor the orchestra, the soloists, nor the concert spaces. For me, this is the same premiere as the GF Händel once was.

– The Pažaislis Music Festival is accompanied by Moto « Creation of Music ». How can one create such love?

– This is a question that a person can simply remain silent or, on the contrary, to write a book about it. The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer was right in saying that all the arts would become music. Music can say everything without saying anything. It is based on the sound and the sound has some special aspects; It is impossible to sing, it is impossible to feel it, as soon as he is born, he dies immediately and never returns. Just like life. Sometimes a person thinks about the meaning of life. He does not know that, he can only feel it. Music can help here. We have become too materialistic and will always remain a community that is more obviously visible. After all, it is said that the conductor must look beautiful. However, I never look in the mirror. When a person looks deeper into himself, he manages to create a space where everyone and everything has their place. Occasionally, love is caught at first glance. It happened to me – after all, my family wasn’t music, and I just heard her and gave her all my life. What it is – I don’t know. I am in that. Sometimes love comes with time, sometimes due to repetitions. I believe that music should be part of life. Then love for music will develop spontaneously.

Music must be accessible to everyone to make people realize – part of life. This does not mean that everyone has to become musicians. However, there is probably no person who can survive for at least a week without music. Politicians should also understand it.

There is probably no person who can survive for at least a week without music. Politicians should also understand it.

– I want to read an excerpt from the review: « It sometimes looks like a dervish at the console: he conducts thoughtfully, dancing and sometimes obsessed with his temperament, jumps into the air. » Maybe you really dervish?

– Oh, then I was still young (a quote from a review written seven years ago). Am I a dervish? This question should be answered by others who see me from outside. I am a spiritual person. I do not recognize any particular religion, but I have a great deal of respect for them. Be it Islam or Christianity. I once studied religions carefully, and for a long time I admired Buddhism because I wanted to understand the meaning of spirituality to life. While studying Persian music, I had to learn a lot of Persian poet, the famous Suffi Rumi poems, singing songs according to his lyrics. This knowledge baggage helped me a lot when I was studying in Europe because everything is based on materiality and it was not easy for me to discover a new home here. I could not say that in the traditional sense I am a dervish, but I believe in spirituality expressed through music. Whether it’s baroque, new music or progressive metal (I sometimes listen to it). Most importantly, it’s good music. I belong to the music that opens up other realms and you can call me dervish. For me the same. In fact, such epithets are just the wisdom of journalists.

– This oratorio started Pažaislis Music Festival 30 years ago. Now she returns to the monastery spaces again. The work is large, of course, many listeners are well aware of only the famous choir « Alleluia ». This time we will hear a slightly shortened oratory version. Was it easy to lose such a magnificent piece?

– Yes, the popularity of the choir « Alleluia » can even become a problem. Yes, this is the most famous oratorio number, but all the other material is that you have to understand – it could only be written by genius. In terms of dramaturgy, the work is seamless and genius. It is not just an oratorio – it contains different styles of music that gave the genius hand a dramaturgical meaning. This is certainly not all succeeds. Connecting the liturgical text with the opera genre and national music, with all it a deep meaning, can only be genius. There is an endless symbol of characters.

While studying the score, I wondered why each oratorio number has only one tone for it? There are plenty of books that I had to study over the years. I think not everything is revealed. There is a lot of learning, a lot of rehearsal and eventually running this work. You have to tell myself – I know I don’t know enough. You have to just listen and become part of it. So, I am not only extremely interested and impressed with this piece. I am honored because I can participate in the creative process of this orator. Yes, this option will be shortened, as this was the request of the festival organizers – not to take a break. So I was thinking for a long time and thoroughly selected the numbers I had to delete. If my will, I would not remove any sound from the oratorio, but it is impossible to listen to the whole piece without interruption. I took a note with heart pain, but later that pain began to decrease.

History shows that GF Händel was a pragmatic man. He also shortened and recycled his works in accordance with the circumstances. So, based on this fact, I agreed to shorten the work. If it was the case of Mr van Beethoven, I would refuse work. I would say, « Look for another conductor. Mr Van Beethoven was not a pragmatic man. » GF Händel was like that, and I was just a servant of the composer, I am irrelevant. So, we will fit into two hours, in my opinion, performing a very convincing version of the work.

I would like to quote the composer himself: « The newspaper after the premiere was written that it was amazing entertainment. But it would be really painful for me if I just had fun. I think I have to make them better. » Thus, the composer knew that he could uplift people with this music by turning them into an even better version of their own. I think he succeeded.