The Universal Language of Music is Above War
The Rachmaninoff International Orchestra will perform Saturday, November 9th as part of the 800th anniversary of the Toledo Cathedral.
Friendly, polite and with impeccable Spanish, Sergey Markov is organizing the final details of the Rachmaninoff International Orchestra’s debut concert in Spain. These musicians from Russia, Ukraine and the rest of Europe are here to perform as part of the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral of Toledo, next Saturday, November 9.
With this concert Markov wants to send a clear message: "When the world is divided and we experience the worst war that Europe has seen in decades, and a new Iron Curtain, the universal language of music must be above all conflicts."
The International Rachmaninoff Orchestra is a young orchestra. Why was it created?
Look how divided the world has become in recent years. Music has the power to bridge divides and promote better understanding between peoples of different languages, cultures and beliefs.
Why do you say this concert should not be missed?
There are many orchestras in the world, but this one was born from a unique moment in history, with outstanding musicians from Eastern and Western Europe. Its first recordings and concerts have had a great impact, and there is something about it that makes it different and exciting for music lovers. What exactly is it? You should come and hear it, because not everything in music can be explained in words.
The orchestra is named after the Russian composer Rachmaninoff. Tell us why.
The founder of the orchestra - pianist, conductor and composer Mikhail Pletnev - had an orchestra, the best in Russia, the RNO, for more than 30 years. It received numerous awards such as the Diapason d'Or and a Grammy Award, among others. But the situation began to change, and not in a good direction, and Pletnev left Russia. He now lives in Switzerland and many Russian musicians who know and admire him also had to leave and settle abroad. So the core of the Rachmaninoff International Orchestra is made up of musicians of Russian origin, although it also has musicians from Ukraine and from many other European countries. It is filled with wonderful talent.
The first concerts of the new orchestra coincided with Rachmaninoff's 150th birthday and we saw a symbolism, a deep connection. Rachmaninoff, one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, also had to leave Russia because of political forces at play at the time. He was never able to return and although this caused him suffering, he composed excellent music in exile. This is further proof that music does not recognise political borders and that sometimes beauty is born from pain.
Does this last sentence also apply to the Rachmaninoff International Orchestra?
Yes, the birth of this orchestra was accompanied by certain tensions. It is so tragic that the world is again divided, that there is an Iron Curtain again and that people are being killed in the worst war Europe has seen in decades. However, musicians from both sides of the divide make music together, which shows that ordinary people do not want wars. It is politicians who start them, acting in disregard of people’s pain. Since not everything depends on us and we have to live in a divided world, this sense of drama is very present in this orchestra. In fact, when the musicians had just met, there was some tension. But then they started playing, and the tension was replaced by harmony and beauty. God created the world out of chaos, and even some unpleasant emotions may sometimes be transformed into beauty. I think that, in terms of musicality, in terms of emotion, this orchestra gives the public the opportunity to witness and live that moment when unity rises above the apparent division, unique moments of harmony and beauty that start from a complex reality. And that everything happens in a Cathedral with 800 years of history, like the one in Toledo, designed to be a natural auditorium, will make it an unforgettable event.
“Music is enough for a lifetime, but one lifetime is not enough for all the music”
– Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Toledans, you cannot miss a unique and majestic event! This upcoming charity concert of sacred music in the impressive Toledo Catedral Primada is an extraordinary opportunity to enjoy the talented Rachmaninoff International Orchestra in a special event for the 800th anniversary of our cathedral (1226-2026). In this sacred space, pieces that uplift the spirit and celebrate our history and culture will resonate. It will be a night to remember and a special moment to unite in support of a charitable cause. Don't miss it!
Originally published in Spanish by El Polígono
