LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (10/18/98)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A comment about the Kiev Symphony

Dear Editor:

As a longtime and avid reader of The Weekly, I would like to respond to the material presented in the October 4 issue of The Weekly's "Dateline New York" column.

The column features a large photo of the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, which appeared in concert for the first time at Carnegie Hall on September 15 under the direction of Roger McMurrin, the symphony's founder and artistic director. The concert, which is referred to as an "outstanding presentation" of the new season, featured four world-renowned Russian and three American composers, among others. The Ukrainian segment of the concert program was referred to, in the concert flyer, as "Ukrainian classics and folk music performed in traditional costumes with folk instruments."

Such a melange of classic and "folk music" may well be one reason that there was no critical response in the New York press.

To my mind, the question arises: why is this orchestra featuring Russian composers and is so reticent when it comes to Ukrainian composers of world caliber?

Furthermore, in the same column, there is reference to the Kirov Opera and Chorus, as well as the Bard Music Festival which will focus on "Pyotr Tchaikovsky and his World," to be held at Alice Tully Hall on October 31. What is the point of highlighting concerts of Russian music?

Granted, "Dateline" referred to the "uneven quality" of the symphony's performance, noting that perhaps this was due to the fact that so many of the members are recent graduates of music conservatories.

The column does inform the readers of Mr. McMurrin's religious and charitable activities in Kyiv - the raison d'être for the founding of the symphony in the first place.

Is it justifiable to use such an official sounding name as "The Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus" in order to promote one's own personal mission? Not surprisingly many people are misled into thinking that this is a premiere professional orchestra from Ukraine.

I would say that presenting this group in prestigious halls such as Carnegie - while at the same time selling one's own book ("The Splendor of His Music," which is written by Mrs. McMurrin) and displaying in the Carnegie lobby a maquette of a proposed church center to be built in Ukraine - is indeed a totally inappropriate and highly questionable way to introduce and promote (hopefully, the best) of Ukrainian music abroad.

Roman Stecura
Jersey City, N.J.

More on Forbes and U.S. voters

Dear Editor:

The editorial comment (September 13) about the Forbes Magazine article that showed malice toward Ukraine is sapient. But the implication that their shoddy journalism may be harmful to Steve Forbes' presidential sweepstakes is not well-founded. Henry L. Mencken, a pre-eminent U.S. editor and critic in the first half of this century, once remarked that he knew of no one making money by betting on the intelligence of the American voter.

Nevertheless, do not despair. Steve Forbes (whose first name is actually Malcolm, like his billionaire father's) has a proven capacity to mess up his cookies. For instance, his ranting against affirmative action succeeded mainly in highlighting that he, as chief editor, is a beneficiary of affirmation action.

Likewise, the flat tax obsession - the centerpiece of his self-serving agenda - has become a subject of derision, because for most Americans the notion that Mr. Forbes should be paying an income tax at the same rate as his chauffeur is obnoxious. Mr. Forbes' prospects of becoming president are probably no better than for Chairman Oleksander Tkachenko to play shortstop with the Cleveland Indians.

Boris Danik
North Caldwell, N.J.

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