Russian pianist Mikhail Lidsky and conductor Alexei Galea speak to Iggy Fenech about their careers, their passions and their upcoming concert, Virtuosi for Mamà, a one-off event that will celebrate motherhood with a programme of masterpieces for violin, piano and strings.

Although Mother’s Day is a Hallmark holiday, it is still observed with a certain religious vigour, as many come together to honour the matriarch of the family and give thanks for her innumerable and, often thankless, jobs.

Even so, it is hard to find something that can truly play tribute to motherhood and shed some light on the emotional roller coaster that being a mother often means.

But if there’s one thing that comes close to that and encompasses the stress, the drama, the elation and the all-round majesty and magnanimousness of it all, it would definitely have to be a classical concert that celebrates maternity through masterpieces by the greats.

One such concert, aptly being held next Sunday, is Virtuosi for Mamà.

The musical production, which will feature the Tbilisi state chamber orchestra Georgian Sinfonietta under the baton of Maltese-born Alexei Galea and Brazilian violinist Alessandro Borgomanero on a Stradivarius, will also see top Russian pianist Mikhail Lidsky performing in Malta for the very first time.

Having studied the piano from the tender age of five, Lidsky has definitely gone on to become a master, with a professional career that spans 25 years and a curriculum vitae that lists founding the world-renowned Autumn Music Nights in Moscow and the Piano Festival in Volgograd among his many achievements.

“My late parents were not musicians but they loved, knew and understood music,” Lidsky reminisces.

“I was always interested in it and tried playing a couple of times, too. Then, after some private lessons, I entered the Gnessin School and, well, the rest is history as they say.

The event features the Tbilisi state chamber orchestra Georgian Sinfonietta

“I have now been performing professionally for over 25 years – more or less – and I still count my first appearances as my most memorable.”

Although Lidsky claims that he likes to concentrate on his present and future work rather than his past – and rightly so – it is hard to talk to or mention him without pointing out some of his most monumental achieàvements.

The Autumn Music Nights were held in Moscow in 2003, 2005 and 2007 and as the brainchild of Lidsky they were meant to “realise my musical ideas without a non-musical ‘garnish’,” he says.

Even so, from 2008 onwards, he started his annual recital series at the Moscow International House of Music, among many other concerts in other cities.

This series was spun from the Autumn Music Nights, which means that their legacy to the Russian and European arts scene lives on.

“The Volgograd project on the other hand took place thanks to my dear, late friend Nikolai Rubtsov, a head of the regional Music Education Office,” he adds. “Together we held four festivals and published four books on piano theory and history.

I must confess that I don’t believe it possible for me to continue working on this now that he has passed away.”

Now, Lidsky is travelling to Malta to join Maestro Alexei Galea, violinist Alessandro Borgomanero and the Georgian Sinfonietta, who, together, will be performing a programme full of classics from all over the world, with pieces by Mozart, Grieg and Mendelssohn, among others.

“I played with Maestro Galea last year in Kislovodsk, Russia, and I was very pleased to co-operate with a good musician and a recent student of late Victor Merzhanov,” says Lidsky.

“I’m also very grateful for his invitation to Malta, as this will be my first time performing there.

“I have never had the opportunity to play with Maestro Borgomanero, however, nor with the Georgian Sinfonietta, although I have had some links with the Georgian musicians.

“In particular, I am familiar with them from my time teaching at the Moscow Conservatoire as an assistant to the world-famous pianist Elisso Virsaladze,” he concludes.

Virtuosi for Mamà will take place next Sunday at 6pm at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.

Tickets are available online or by calling on 2559 5750. This concert is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia.

www.mcc.com.mt