A concert-goer's thoughts on purchasing performers' music

WASHINGTON - At most of the concerts of the TWG Cultural Fund series, members of the audience can purchase CDs of the performers' music. I usually avail myself of that opportunity - unless I already have the recording - and listening to the disk afterwards I usually feel sorry for those who did not.

At the Cerberus Piano Trio concert, the CD table in back of the hall had something special; a thick, four-disk Japanese-released album, with a photograph and just enough English on the cover to convince me that I simply had to have it. Above the English title, "Ludwig van Beethoven: Complete Violin Sonatas," was a photograph of Mykola Suk standing, hands folded, beside a concert grand, and Oleh Krysa, violin and bow at rest in his left hand. Both are smiling - very self-satisfied smiles.

I've heard both artists in concert and on recordings, but never together, and the possibility of hearing them play Beethoven's violin sonatas, and especially the 5th ("Spring") and 9th ("Kreutzer"), together, was something I simply had to experience. Having listened to the recording, I understand their smiles.

And I feel oh-so-sorry for those who didn't spend the $40 to get this album. They know not what they're missing.

The problem for them is how to get it now. This Japanese recording is not at your local record store, nor is it available via the Internet. You can only get it from two sources: Mr. Suk and Mr. Krysa, who managed to get their hands on the remaining disks after the Japanese company that produced the recording in 1999 went out of business.

I ordered additional copies from Mr. Suk, and he agreed to let me post his e-mail address for those who would like to buy the album; it's MykolaSuk@aol.com. (Mr. Krysa could not be reached to obtain his e-mail release, but if you do a Google search on him, the first link that comes up is his page at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, which lists his e-mail and phone number.)

While you're in a buying mood: Mr. Suk has another fabulous CD with Liszt, Bartok, Silvestrov and Beethoven on the Cambria label; and Mr. Krysa has a CD with Mozart's violin concertos No. 3 and 5 that you'll listen to over and over again on the Lydian label.

There are many other recordings out there by Ukrainian musicians just waiting to be enjoyed. Buy one for yourself, for your sister-in-law and, yes, for your local classical music radio station. And don't forget to add a donation if it's a public radio station.

Did I mention Mariana Sadovska's "Songs I Learned in Ukraine?" It's "awesome!" to borrow my nephew's favorite adjective.

- Yaro Bihun

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 12, 2005, No. 24, Vol. LXXIII

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