Formed by the Council of Ministers of Ukraine in November of 1918, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is considered to be one of the finest symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe. Its first conductor was Oleksander Horilyj. The NSOU was entrusted with the premiere performances of the works of the following composers: Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Aram Khatchaturian, Boris Lyatoshynsky, Valentyn Silvestrov, Myroslav Skoryk, and Evgen Stankovych.

 

The Orchestra has gained international recognition over a remarkably short period of time. After an appearance in Moscow, Dmitri Shostakovich commented:" This orchestra has as distinguished a group of performers as one would be likely to find anywhere. The ensemble of the orchestra is of the highest level. In addition, the various soloists and instrumental groups within the Orchestra play exceptionally and complement each other beautifully – as would the greatest of the world’s symphony orchestras".

Since 1993, the NSOU has released more than 100 sound recordings which include both Ukrainian and international repertoires. Most of these recordings have received the highest international acclaim. In 1994, the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) rated NSOU’s recording of Boris Lyatoshynsky’s Symphonies No. 2 and No. 3 as "The Best Recording of the Year". The CD of Silvestrov's "Requiem for Larissa" was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005.

 

The NSOU has performed in successful concert tours throughout Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Belarus,Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, England, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America .

 

Conductor: Volodymyr Sirenko

Volodymyr Sirenko has established a reputation for himself, compared by the international press to brilliant conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen and Simon Rattle. He was born in Poltava region.

 

Birthdate 1/11/1960. In 1989 he graduated from Kyiv Conservatoire where he studied conducting under Prof. A. Vlasenko and a year later became the finalist at the International Conducting Competition in Prague. Sirenko was invited to the position of the Chief Conductor of the Ukrainian Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1991, which he held until 1999 when he became Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the celebrated National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (former State Symphony Orchestra).

 

 

Volodymyr Sirenko is the National actor of Ukraine (2008) an Honoured Figure of Arts of Russian Federation (2003). In 2001 he received Ukraine's most prestigious award the National Shevchenko Prize.

He has also appeared as a guest conductor with several American orchestras".He has recorded many CDs and has toured Europe extensively. Sirenko conducts two of SONOVIDE's motion picture soundtrack recordings: Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder - a film starring Michael Rooker, Kevin Zegers and Tony Todd To the Ends of Time - a film starring Christine Taylor, Joss Ackland, Sarah Douglas and William Zabka.