Vladimir Fedoseev: "I am Russian and I believe in God"

On March 29, 2007, in the Auditorium Conciliazione in Rome, "The Passion According to St Matthew" by Russian Orthodox Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev was performed before a packed house of more than 1,500 people. A Russian orchestra and choir totalling 145 musicians took part in the concert. They were led by the well-known Russian conductor, Vladimir Fedoseev, 74. Before the concert, this eminent Russian conductor gave an interview to Inside the Vatican magazine in the Russian language. Here is the English translation of the interview.

Inside the Vatican: Dear Vladimir Ivanovich, for many years you directed the Vienna Philharmonic, and you now direct the Grand Tchaikovsky Symphony of Moscow. You have chosen to bring your orchestra to Rome to perform this new work by Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev. In what precisely does the originality of Bishop Hilarion’s The Passion According to St Matthew consist? What is the impact of this music?

Vladimir Fedoseev: You know, when the idea to play this music was suggested to me, I agreed immediately. The very idea was quite attractive. Addressing people’s souls nowadays, in our times, is very important. If we lose people’s souls, be it in Russia, in Italy, or in any other country, we will lose ourselves. The author turned to people’s souls and to the Gospel, the eternal book, which Pushkin considered the greatest book ever written. We pray using the words from this book. It tells us about salvation accomplished by Christ and about His sacrifice for all of us.
Then, when I began to work with the score, I realized that in it there are many beautiful pages, many pages filled with spirituality. And this confirmed my initial choice. It is music which goes deep into any person’s soul.

ITV: You speak about the spiritual significance of this composition, but what is its cultural significance? Does it contribute to the development of relations between the Orthodox and the Catholics, between Russia and Italy?

Fedoseev: Of course. This is confirmed by the fact that today we are here, in Italy. Italians, those who organized our visit, are eager to listen to our word from Russia, to see how we understand this composition and how through it we try to unite the souls of all peoples. The rapprochement of our souls and of our peoples – this is the main idea. And everything could be accomplished through music. Where diplomacy fails, music can solve all the problems.

ITV: This premiere performance takes place not only in Moscow, where you performed the music on March 27, but also now in Rome. What does Rome mean for you?

Fedoseev: Rome is an eternal city, an outstanding city, a capital of the spirit. The Vatican and many other things are here. I played at the Vatican some eight years ago, when the previous Pope was still alive; we played The Glagolic Mass by Janachek with the Orchestra of the Rome Radio. So, for me it is not the first contact. But I am very glad that this new work is performed by our Great Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra. And I repeat that in this music there are many sublime ideas, many uplifting emotions. And I think that every people will espouse these ideas.

ITV: Which part of the composition would you consider as its most powerful and profound?

Fedoseev: The final movements, where the theme of Easter and of the Resurrection of Christ emerges. But all pages of this composition are beautiful!

ITV: During today’s rehearsal, it was clear that invest your energy into the performance of this music. And you transmit your emotions to the choir and orchestra...

Fedoseev: All music should be interpreted in the way one feels it. I feel this music in one way, perhaps others will feel it in a different way. To me this music is very close: its melodies, its emotion, the world-outlook on which it is based, everything in it! This is close to me because I am Russian and I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ. And I transmit my feelings through this music. I am, so to speak, an interpreter of this music. In this I am helped by the choir, the orchestra, the soloists, and the outstanding proto-deacon who reads the Gospel in Italian (in Moscow he recited it in Russian).

ITV: Bishop Hilarion is widely known in theological and religious circles, but now he emerges as a composer. What would you say about his music from a professional point of view?

Fedoseev: The most objective judge is the public, the people. The point is, however, that, according to his first profession, he is precisely a musician, a composer. Later, for some reasons of his own, he abandoned music and chose a Church career. And suddenly his soul felt that he had to do something in line with his initial profession. And he has done it! When a person is, as it were, reborn, and some spirit descends on him and inspires his creativity, this is beautiful. I hope that he will continue to compose music. He has already told me about some of his new musical ideas, and I welcome this.

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