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Jurowski in conversation: England
and London >
Jurowski
in conversation: Shostakovich’s Symphony 7 >
Vladimir
Jurowski - biography >
You are often asked about your
Russian and German roots, and which of those has shaped your
musical personality. But how do you view England? Is this
somewhere you would spend time if you didn't have work commitments
here?
England has always been a country I have wanted to come to
and even to stay in for a long period of time. I've always
felt a very strong bond with English culture - with the language
and the attitude of the English. Yes, I am often asked about
my Russian and German roots, and I'd say that I see England
as the third country, in the company of Russian and Germany,
which has influenced my development very strongly, though
perhaps I should include Italy in that as well. So I really
see myself as a cosmopolitan artist, who still remains a Russian
Jew. I will never become a German, I will never become an
Englishman, I will always remain a Russian, or rather, a Soviet
Jewish musician. But I take everything on board: I don't see
these other cultures as a threat to my roots, more an enrichment
of them.
It's interesting to chart the
change of the Orchestra against that of London, because in
a sense both are far more globalised: the Orchestra travels
internationally more, and has a more international membership.
But it is simultaneously more rooted than ever to the city
and even to the localities of Lambeth and Southwark, where
so much education and community work happens.
It's a positive thing that through its international reputation
the Orchestra is seen and heard more, and sees and hears more
itself. With its outreach work, it has regained its social
status in the community, and that's why this work is so important.
London is one of the centres of the world, but every big city,
like every big country, is like a huge organism. It has its
own rhythms, its own times of bloom and times of decline,
but I think that with the multi-cultural society that London
now has - a melting pot which is similar to that of New York
- the city has a future.
Vladimir Jurowski was talking
to Andrew Mellor
Vladimir Jurowski conducts Excite
on Saturday 7 June 2008
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