As part of the concert series Čiurlioniada. Piano and Organ Music Evenings, taking place in Vilnius from September 21 to October 29, the stage will welcome for the first time a truly exceptional duo — Yurii Kot and Iryna Aleksiychuk, one of Ukraine’s most distinguished piano duos with international acclaim. Professors at the National Music Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv, recipients of the L. Revutskyi Prize from Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture, honoured with the title of Merited Artists of Ukraine, the duo brings not only technical brilliance but also a deep emotional insight into their performances. Ahead of their highly anticipated concert at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic on October 12, the artists share their thoughts on their creative path, artistic inspirations, the challenges of working under the current difficult circumstances, and the special program they are preparing for the audience in Vilnius.

What does this visit to Lithuania mean to you, especially your performance at one of the country’s most important concert venues on a special occasion – the 150th anniversary of one of the most prominent Lithuanian composers and painters, M. K. Čiurlionis?

Y. K.: For us, this visit to Lithuania is a wonderful opportunity to connect with wonderful people and the audience in Vilnius, to express our deep gratitude for Lithuania’s support of Ukraine in its struggle against unjust and uncivilized Russian aggression. It is a chance to build yet another cultural bridge between our countries — cultures that are so different and yet so close.

This visit becomes even more meaningful because it is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis — an artist who, through his musical compositions and paintings, portrayed nature, the human within nature, and nature within the human soul.

I had the joy of performing for audiences in Kaunas since my student years. One of my most recent concerts at the Kaunas Philharmonic took place after the beginning of the war. Each time, I felt incredible attention and understanding from the Lithuanian audience. However, this will be the first performance of our duo in Vilnius — and, in fact, our debut as a duo in Lithuania overall.

I. A.: For me, it is a great joy and honour to visit Lithuania and perform for the Lithuanian audience, and I have several reasons for this feeling. First of all, I have never been to Lithuania before, and this is a wonderful opportunity to get to know this beautiful country and its amazing people more closely. And as Yurii mentioned, like many Ukrainians, I am deeply grateful to the people of Lithuania for their long-standing support of Ukraine in our struggle against Russian aggression, and for offering shelter and a second home to thousands of Ukrainian refugees who arrived here after the outbreak of the full-scale war.

Secondly, I found it extremely inspiring to delve deeper into the work of the outstanding Lithuanian composer and painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. Together with my husband, I am honoured to include his composition In the Forest in our concert programme in Vilnius. Moreover, I truly look forward to new creative connections, cultural exchange, and potential collaborations with Lithuanian musicians in the future.

Two piano duos will meet on stage – you will perform together with one of the best Lithuanian duos of all time, Z. Ibelhauptas and R. Rikterė. What makes performing as a duo special for you, as performers, and for the audience? What does it take to reach such a high level, and what, perhaps, is the most challenging part?

I. A.: One of the most exciting artistic highlights of this visit for me is the opportunity to meet and share the stage with one of Lithuania’s most distinguished piano duos — Rūta Rikterė and Zbignevas Ibelhauptas. Such collaborative performances are always enriching — they open new creative perspectives, inspire fresh ideas, and offer a chance to appreciate the artistry and repertoire of fellow musicians.

Y. K.: For us, such meetings are always an opportunity to learn something new — not only professionally, but also on a human level. Ensemble playing is a true joy! I adore my instrument, the piano, but real magic begins when another set of hands — your partner's — joins the sound, or when a second piano is added. That’s when I feel the full presence of an orchestra. This musical fairytale has lived in me since childhood, when my grandmother and I played simple four-hand pieces together. Then came four-hand transcriptions of symphonies, and eventually I met Iryna…

I. A.: Our piano duo with Yurii has a history spanning almost forty years. It began during our student years at the Khmelnytskyi College of Music. We initially accompanied each other in orchestral parts of piano concertos. Very soon, we realized that we had found in one another the perfect musical partner — someone with whom we could play by ear, improvise, and sight-read freely and equally, without limitations.

This discovery was so thrilling that we ended up sight-reading almost the entire symphonic repertoire of our library in arrangements for piano four hands or two pianos. Over time, we became increasingly interested in the rich repertoire written specifically for piano duo. Eventually, our musical partnership blossomed into a personal one — we got married. I believe it is our love for music, our deep mutual understanding, and the rare creative happiness of breathing as one that has allowed us to achieve such a high level of performance.

Y. K.: As performers, one of our main goals is to share our thoughts and ideas with the audience, to build an intangible connection with listeners — and achieving that connection is an incredibly joyful experience.

What is the most difficult part of preparing for concerts? There’s a lot to say here. In our current circumstances, the greatest challenge is the physical inability to rehearse regularly. Due to the war, we had to leave Ukraine, along with everything familiar to us. Now we live in different countries — Iryna in Spain and I in Croatia. During the summer, we seize every opportunity to practice. And although we currently have just one acoustic and one electric piano (with one — unfortunately very important — key not working), nothing stops us from joyfully immersing ourselves in the magical sounds of Čiurlionis’ brilliant symphonic poem In the Forest. Additionally, three months ago I suffered a shoulder fracture, which required surgery. I am now actively going through rehabilitation — and playing in a duo, along with daily sea swimming, has been a great help in my recovery!

I. A.: We see each other only two or three times a year, which creates serious difficulties in preparing our new concert programmes and rehearsing together. Additionally, I live with our two dogs, and each trip and having to leave them with someone else requires careful planning and emotional stress — not only for me, but also for them.

Your program includes your own compositions inspired by performative Ukrainian folk dance motifs, as well as a cycle based on M. Gogol’s short story Viy. What makes this program special overall, and what was the motivation for these particular choices? What can the audience expect, and how will this concert stand out among the many others being held for this occasion?

Y. K.: The concert program probably reflects our desire to expand the repertoire with Iryna’s compositions and works by Ukrainian composers in general. This is our identity — the space in which we feel completely natural and authentic.

I. A.: Every musician — and especially every composer — is a representative of their nation's unique culture. We can immediately recognize the national intonational, melodic, and rhythmic roots in the works of the greatest composers throughout history. It is precisely this authenticity that makes us interesting to audiences from other countries and cultural backgrounds.

During our piano duo tours abroad, I’ve noticed that my compositions rooted in Ukrainian themes and musical language tend to resonate most deeply with listeners. That’s why I am always happy to share this part of our culture — to present the audience with something truly “Ukrainian” embodied in my original works.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, global interest in Ukrainian music has grown dramatically. As a composer, I now receive numerous commissions for new works and requests to purchase scores — for performances by orchestras, choirs, chamber ensembles, and soloists alike. What moves me most is that many foreign choirs now wish to sing in the Ukrainian language! I’m sincerely grateful to all people of goodwill around the world for their support.

As for this particular concert, its special feature is the presence of my original compositions. This has become a creative hallmark of our duo. Most of my duo works were composed specifically for Yurii and me — and I do not share them with other duos. That’s our artistic signature: a program of original music, infused with improvisation, elements of theatricality, and subtle humour. We don’t just perform music — we tell stories, where sound and stage presence go hand in hand.

Y. K.: And in Čiurlionis’s piece, I don’t hear just any forest, but specifically a Lithuanian forest — with its centuries-old pine trees and air deeply saturated with the scent of needles. Our forest is different, although similar. And it’s not about botany — it’s about history. Our forests could tell many fascinating stories about what has happened on our lands throughout the centuries. Each one has its own story. And so does music. If it has a natural national root, it becomes unique — and that makes it even more valuable. That’s precisely why we decided to immerse Lithuanian listeners in our story, in our history.

As you mentioned before, your programme will also feature J. Aleksa’s arrangement of M. K. Čiurlionis’s symphonic poem In the Forest for two pianos. Iryna, how does this piece resonate with your own compositions?

I. A.: In my opinion, what unites me and Čiurlionis as composers is our shared affinity for programmatic music, for vivid, pictorial soundscapes that evoke imagery and narrative. His symphonic poem In the Forest paints a sonic landscape for the listener — much like in my own compositions, where I often aim to convey visual, narrative, or emotional-psychological scenes through sound.

Still, whether there is indeed a similarity between us — that’s something perhaps better answered by the listeners who will experience our music side by side in the same concert program. I myself would be very curious to hear their impressions.

Overall, how familiar are you with Čiurlionis’s creative legacy, and what associations or thoughts does his personality and work evoke for you?

Y. K.: I was first introduced to Čiurlionis’s work during my early years at the Kyiv Music Boarding School. I remember a time when our teacher, Nina Mytrofanivna Naidych, would assign each of us a small piano piece by Čiurlionis and show us paintings that best matched the mood and imagery of the music. I don’t remember exactly which piece I played — it was such a long time ago! But I still vividly recall the sense of mystery and enchantment that filled the room.

To me, his music evokes the life of nature — deep, mysterious, often hidden from people. Yet it remains close and open to those with creative imagination, capable of feeling the life of nature as their own inner world. The national elements in his music are especially important — woven together with the finest qualities of the European Romantic tradition. It is this combination that makes his art truly unique and authentic.

I. A.: I first became acquainted with the creative work of M. K. Čiurlionis during my studies at the Khmelnytskyi Music College. We listened to his musical compositions and studied the details of his biography. But what left the deepest impression on me was when our teacher brought a large illustrated book of his paintings to class. They struck me profoundly — with their delicate pastel colour palette, unique atmosphere, and the philosophical depth behind the imagery. One painting in particular etched itself into my memory — 4th painting from the Funeral Symphony cycle of 7. I was completely mesmerized by it. Even to this day, whenever I see a similar sunset in nature, with colours like those in the painting, I think of Čiurlionis and his visionary world.

What would you like to wish the composer and painter M. K. Čiurlionis on the occasion of his birthday anniversary? And not only to him, but also to all those who admire his work?

I. A.: I sincerely wish that more and more people around the world discover and fall in love with the work of this outstanding Lithuanian Master — because it truly deserves to be known and cherished. His art is deep, luminous, and filled with philosophical meaning and refined aesthetics.

Y. K.: Undoubtedly, the music of this great Lithuanian Master should be heard not only on his birthday and not only in Lithuania. And, thank God, it is. His work nurtures in people a sense of beauty, unity with nature, and faith in the boundless richness of the human spirit.

His music is more relevant today than ever, in a time when humanity seems to have forgotten its true purpose and is reverting to its animalistic instincts in the worst sense — waging wars and defending evil. Čiurlionis’s art speaks of Goodness. It speaks of Life.

I. A.: I am also very glad that our piano duo now includes a work by M. K. Čiurlionis in our repertoire, and that we have the opportunity to perform his music for the Lithuanian audience. I truly hope the listeners will feel the joy and inspiration of our shared Lithuanian-Ukrainian musical vibe!

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