SigmArt is delighted to present the Concert of National Chamber Ensemble KYIV SOLOISTS performing Mendelssohn & Dvořák from the National Philharmonic of Ukraine in Kiev on 25th of June 2025 at 19.00 EEST (17.00 BST), available On Demand on SigmArt.

The National Chamber Ensemble “Kyiv Soloists”, under the baton of Maestro Mykola Diadiura, will present the project “Mendelssohn and Dvořák.”
The soloists are the acclaimed Kateryna Diadiura (Piano) and Dmytro Tkachenko (Violin).

The programme brings together two masterpieces of the classical repertoire: Felix Mendelssohn’s Double Concerto in D minor for Violin, Piano and Strings, and Antonín Dvořák’s Serenade for Strings in E major. The emotional depth and refinement of these works promise to transport the audience into a world of Romanticism and elegance, enchanting with their lyricism and exaltation. The concert is set to be a genuine celebration for true connoisseurs.

Mendelssohn’s Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Orchestra is an exceptional work, one of the most brilliant examples of the composer’s precocious genius. Composed in 1823, when Mendelssohn was a mere 14 years old, the piece remained largely unknown for many years, only gaining prominence in the 20th century, where it astonished listeners with its maturity, depth, and the dazzling musical imagination of the young prodigy. The Double Concerto already reveals the remarkable creativity, technical assurance, and emotional intensity that would become hallmarks of Mendelssohn’s oeuvre.

The work showcases the virtuosity of both soloists—violinist and pianist—set against the subtle, chamber-like interplay of the string orchestra. The opening movement (Allegro) brims with youthful energy and drama; the second movement (Adagio) is imbued with sincerity and tender lyricism; while the finale (Allegro molto) sparkles with dazzling technique and joyful exuberance. This concerto is a true gem of the chamber-orchestral repertoire, offering listeners a unique glimpse of Mendelssohn as both a virtuoso experimenter and a passionate exponent of youthful inspiration.

One of the most poetic and radiant works by the Czech master Antonín Dvořák is his Serenade for Strings, composed in 1875 over the course of just two weeks during a period of creative inspiration and personal tranquility. This work stands as a veritable hymn to harmony, warmth, and inner peace. The Serenade, in five movements, captivates with its transparent textures, refined melodicism, and profound national character. Here, Dvořák masterfully fuses classical formal traditions with the emotionality of the Slavic soul.
From the graceful charm of the first movement to the jubilant finale, this piece is a true celebration of the sonorities of the string orchestra. The Serenade imparts to listeners a sense of serenity, dreaminess, and quiet joy, leaving a luminous and sincere emotional impression.

Programme

Part I
Felix Mendelssohn – Double Concerto in D minor for Violin, Piano, and Strings
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Allegro

Part II
Antonín Dvořák – Serenade for Strings in E major, Op. 22
I. Moderato
II. Menuetto: Allegro con moto
III. Scherzo: Vivace
IV. Larghetto
V. Finale: Allegro vivace

About the Participants

Mykola Diadiura (Conductor) studied at the Kyiv State Conservatory (now the National Music Academy of Ukraine) under Professor Roman Kofman. His conducting career commenced in 1987, when he received a prize and special award from the Japanese Association of Conductors at the International Conductors’ Competition in Tokyo. Following the competition, he was invited by the eminent Seiji Ozawa for an internship in the United States, where he studied with Ozawa, Leonard Bernstein, and André Previn.
In 1988, he received a prize at the International Conductors’ Competition in Budapest. From 1989 to 1996, he served as chief conductor of both the Seoul Symphony Orchestra and the Kwangju Symphony Orchestra in South Korea.
Since 1988, he has been a conductor at the National Opera of Ukraine. From 1996 to 2024, he held the position of chief conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine.
As a guest conductor, Maestro Diadiura has collaborated with philharmonic orchestras in Poland, Russia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, Portugal, and France, and has served as principal guest conductor of the Sofia Philharmonic (Bulgaria) and the Białystok Philharmonic (Poland). At the Seoul Opera, he staged productions of Puccini’s “Tosca”, Leoncavallo’s “Pagliacci”, and Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”.
With the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, he has toured Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, and Turkey, and participated in international festivals in Ukraine (“Kyiv Music Fest”, “Musical Premieres of the Season”, “Vladimir Krainev Invites…” (Kyiv), “Virtuosos” (Lviv)) and abroad (“Le Melomane” (France), festivals in San-Maximin (France), “La Chaise-Dieu” (France), the Hector Berlioz Festival in La Côte-Saint-André (France), the International Festival of Sacred Music in Marseille (France), Bleckede (Germany), Wrocław (Poland), Days of Ukrainian Culture in Bern (Switzerland), among others).
He has been the recipient of numerous honours, including the Order of Merit, 3rd class (Ukraine, 2003), the French government’s “Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters” (2005), the title of “People’s Artist of Ukraine” (2008), and the Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine (2011).

Kateryna Diadiura (Piano) is not merely a pianist, but an inspiring figure whose artistry captivates audiences worldwide and leaves a profound legacy with every performance. Her musical journey is a testament to dedication, artistry, and the transformative power of music. Born in Kyiv to a family of musicians, Kateryna began piano at the age of five. By thirteen, she had made her debut with the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, delivering a remarkable performance of Grieg’s Concerto.
Under the guidance of Professor N. Grydnieva, Kateryna graduated from the Kyiv Lysenko State Music Lyceum at eighteen, further refining her skills at Taras Shevchenko National University and the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy. Her artistic development continued at the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne, and she earned her Master’s Degree in Solo Performance at the University Mozarteum in Salzburg, studying with Professor Jacques Rouvier. Kateryna has participated in masterclasses with Michel Beroff, Pavel Gililov, Abdel-Rahman El Bacha, Vladimir Krainev, and Dmitry Alexeev.
She is a laureate of the Grand Prix at the national Ukrainian competition “New Names” and the international competition “Art Premium” in Kyiv. Kateryna has performed concerts for two pianos and orchestra, and piano duo recitals with Jacques Rouvier, Simon Trpceski, Igor Tchetuev, Vahan Mardirossian, Andrey Yaroshinsky, and Dmytro Choni. She is a regular guest at festivals such as “Les concerts du Cloître” (Nice), “Les Nuits Pianistiques” (Aix-en-Provence), “Uzutrakiovakarai” (Lithuania), “French Spring in Ukraine” (Kyiv), Festival “bruit qui pense” (Louveciennes, France), and “Festival Hommage Menuhin” (France).
Kateryna has given numerous recitals and chamber music concerts across Austria, Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland, France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the USA, Japan, and China. She has appeared as a soloist with the Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine and with orchestras in Poland, France, China, Belarus, and Russia.
From 2015 to 2019, she was a guest soloist at the National Opera of Ukraine, regularly performing “Nuits dans les jardins d’Espagne” (M. de Falla). In 2024, Kateryna made her Carnegie Hall debut, marking an exciting new chapter in her career. This season’s highlights include four performances with the Orchestra of Niederösterreich, including two concerts at the iconic Wiener Musikverein Golden Hall, as well as chamber music performances in Salzburg’s Wiener Saal, Vienna’s Brahms Saal, and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Beyond her performance career, Kateryna is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians, sharing her expertise through masterclasses at the Ukrainian National Academy of Music and as a jury member for the Chopin Sessions International Piano Competition in Mallorca. She is a faculty member at the University Mozarteum in Salzburg.

Dmytro Tkachenko (Violin), began studying both violin and piano before the age of six. He attended the Lysenko Music School in Kyiv, later graduating from the National Music Academy of Ukraine (formerly the Kyiv Conservatoire) under the tutelage of Bohodar Kotorovych and Yaroslava Rivniak. In 1998, he was invited to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with Yfrah Neaman. In 2002, Dmytro was made a Fellow of the Guildhall School, and until 2008 worked with Krzysztof Smietana and David Takeno. He was awarded the Guildhall School Concert Recital Diploma (Premier Prix) and was a prize-winner at several international violin competitions, including the Carl Nielsen Competition (Odense, Denmark), the Lysenko Competition (Kyiv, Ukraine), and the Wronski Solo Violin Competition (Warsaw, Poland).
Dmytro has toured extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and has been broadcast on Ukrainian Radio and TV, Danish Radio, Latvian Radio, Polish Radio and TV, and BBC Radio 3 in the UK. He has performed at venues such as London’s Wigmore Hall, Barbican and Cadogan Hall, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall, Cologne Philharmonie, Tokyo Opera City, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Liszt Academy Hall in Budapest, Berlin Konzerthaus and Philharmonie Chamber Music Hall, Megaron in Athens, Palau de la Música in Barcelona, and Auditorio Nacional in Madrid. Recent performances include appearances with the MAV Symphony Orchestra in Budapest, the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra and the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Ankara (Turkey), the Istanbul Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, the Warsaw and Cracow Philharmonics, the Liepāja Symphony in Latvia, the Symphony Orchestra of Chile in Santiago, the Athens State Orchestra, the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra in China, the EuroAsia Symphony in Astana (Kazakhstan), as well as tours in Spain and Germany, and recitals in the UK, Ukraine, France, Japan, Singapore, the USA, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, and North Macedonia. He has performed Stankovych’s No. 2 Concerto throughout the US and Canada during an extensive American tour with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. His repertoire encompasses nearly all the major violin concertos, from Vivaldi’s Quattro Stagioni to Schoenberg and Ligeti, as well as numerous sonatas and smaller works for violin and piano, including complete cycles such as the 24 Paganini Caprices, the complete Bach solo Sonatas and Partitas, and the complete Beethoven Sonatas.
In addition to his concert career, Dmytro Tkachenko currently teaches at the National Music Academy of Ukraine, gives masterclasses (recently in Japan, Korea, Singapore, China, Turkey, Malta, Poland, and Lithuania), serves on the juries of several international competitions, and is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Benjamin Britten International Music Competitions in London and the Lysenko International Music Competition in Kyiv. Since November 2023, he has also served as the Artistic Director of the National Chamber Ensemble “Kyiv Soloists”.

The National Chamber Ensemble “Kyiv Soloists” was founded as the realisation of the dream of the celebrated violinist Bohodar Kotorovych (1941–2009). The ensemble, acclaimed by audiences and critics worldwide, unites talented young Ukrainian musicians, most of whom are laureates of national and international competitions and represent Kotorovych’s school. The current Artistic Director is Dmytro Tkachenko.
The ensemble’s poetic spirit, combined with the avant-garde tendencies of Ukrainian musical culture, has won over audiences in such prestigious venues as the Luxembourg Palace and UNESCO in Paris, Komische Oper in Berlin, the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, Flagey in Belgium, Radiokulturhaus and the Liechtenstein Castle Concert Hall in Vienna, the Esplanade in Singapore, and at the World Expo (Japan). The ensemble is a regular participant in international festivals including the David Oistrakh Festival (Pärnu, Estonia), “Warsaw Autumn” (Poland), contemporary music festivals in Kraków (Poland) and Ruhr (Germany), symphonic music festivals in Algeria, the Gabala Festival (Azerbaijan), and “Musical Premieres of the Season”, “Kyiv Music Fest”, “Gogolfest”, “New Music”, and “ChamberArt Music” in Ukraine. For its active role in representing Ukrainian performing culture worldwide, the “Kyiv Soloists” ensemble was awarded the status of “Ambassador of Ukrainian Culture” by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. In 2010, by decree of the President of Ukraine, the ensemble was granted the prestigious title of “National”.