From November 15th till 20th

"You should know that New Music, such Music to which we are listening in the moment was in the previous Soviet Union not known and was not presented," told a Russian visitor a German one who were visiting the last performances of the 20th music festival for New Music at St. Petersburg.

Being asked if he were a music student or a student of musical science he answered no, he was a theologian and surprised the German visitor with his precise knowledge of modern church music in Germany. For a long time in Germany the church was the only institution who gave the new Music besides some publicly sponsored programs a stage for performances.

"Does this belong to the music or maybe the instrument was not placed carefully?" was another visitor asking when listening to the well done performance of a solo by Alexander Gorskaya.

Music and especially one which can be conveyed to the public only with difficulties exhibited its abilities for communication skill to the full extent in this beautiful, glamorous concert hall in the small Philharmonic concert hall at St. Petersburg. This ability for communication which is frequently admired by a European public which may participate in festivals at Africa or at other places where it is still living and has not been displaced by radio or TV. Here this charm was working and transported the public to an attentively listening audience. People were not only listening but were included in this kind of communication.

Being founded in the year 1989 Sound Ways has been developing to a festival of New Music. During these years the festival did not only gain its reputation as a workshop and meeting place for international composers. More than 50 composers, Russian and international ones could attend the performance of their works, classical avant-garde as well as contemporary composers.

The festival started and closed at the little philharmonic concert hall y of St. Petersburg. Here pieces for the piano of Nikolai Roslavets were presented by the talented Irina Emeliantseva which have been edited on CD this very summer. Only a short view on the life and work of this Russian composers showed that all efforts by a regime and also the envy of colleagues to silence such an artist are in vain.

The closing concert a nonstop performance from the afternoon till the evening not only introduced a Danish group, the Alpha Ensemble, with its lively artists and some pieces of George Crumbs who was a guest or this festival in the year 1997. The Berlin project performed not only pieces by German composers, (Flammer, Emeliantseva, Lohse, Simon) but also Polish and Russian ones.: Slonimsksi: Oh Himmel, oh Himmel and by the host and organizer of the festival Alexander Radvilovitsch two poems by Tristan Tsaras for voice and ensemble. By this program the Berlin project demonstrated its function as a bridge between East and West suited for Berlin, playing German Polish and Russian composers. They alone presented a Polish composer.

It is justified that Alexander Radvilovich the director of this festival deplored the financial crisis and its consequences also for this festival. Without his constant work and efforts the success would be missing. Now the festival developed its unique charm which included artists and visitors.

The participation of the Berlin Project was only enabled by the sponsoring of some members of the Association for the Advancement of West East Informationtransfer, a non profit organization. It is a small group bringing together people from Poland, as well China, from Russia till Canada and naturally Germany. We especially appreciated the quick and generous contribution from the Wilsons, New Jersey USA.

Some members had funded the travelling costs of this group. We also thank the Goetheinstitut which had contributed to the participation of these professional musicians. This showed clearly with how big difficulties the necessary funds have to be applied for, though the effect for the cooperation and the understanding between Russia and Germany can only be highly estimated.

In order to use an economical slogan: Where shall the innovations being rooted if not in the art and its communication skills for the community. This is a reliable base for a working cooperation. It is justified that Alexander Radvilovich the director of this festival deplored the financial crisis and its consequences also for this festival. Without his constant work and efforts the success would be missing. Now the festival developed its unique charm which included artists and visitors.

The participation of the Berlin Project was only enabled by the sponsoring of some members of the Association for the Advancement of West East Informationtransfer, a non profit organization. It is a small group bringing together people from Poland, as well China, from Russia till Canada and naturally Germany. We especially appreciated the quick and generous contribution from the Wilsons, New Jersey USA.

Some members had funded the travelling costs of this group. We also thank the Goetheinstitut which had contributed to the participation of these professional musicians. This showed clearly with how big difficulties the necessary funds have to be applied for, though the effect for the cooperation and the understanding between Russia and Germany can only be highly estimated.

In order to use an economical slogan: Where shall the innovations being rooted if not in the art and its communication skills for the community. This is a reliable base for a working cooperation.

Elisabeth Simon, HonFCILIP (who could participate in this concert by a very gracious sponsor who paid for the travelling costs)