Valentin Silvestrov

The most renowned Ukrainian composer of his generation, Valentin Silvestrov has been admired by the likes of Alfred Schnittke and Arvo Pärt for an oeuvre that includes arch postmodernism, richly melodic neoclassicism and many points in between. Born in Kiev in 1937, Silvestrov studied piano in his hometown and composition in Moscow. During the ’60s, his compositions made him one of the highest-profile avant-garde composers in the Soviet Union, but he faced an uphill battle with the conservatively minded, state-sanctioned music establishment of the time. In the mid-’70s, he began adopting a more under-the-radar approach in response to political pressures. The music he began writing during this period, such as the meditative Silent Songs (1986), had a quieter, more reflective quality. But during this time, Silvestrov’s works began gaining international acceptance that would only increase. Starting in the ’90s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Silvestrov became growingly influenced by Ukrainian and Russian liturgical music. In 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused Silvestrov to flee his country and take up residence in Berlin.