Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sonata for Cello and Piano No.4 opened the concert filling the auditorium with the beautiful and gentle melody and bringing true joy and a sense of life in all its fullness to the audience. The dazzling performance by the musicians greatly enhanced the listening experience and enjoyment of the concert-goers, who listened spellbound as the performers played the sonata in three movements, and then broke into rapturous applause.

Then, Alfred Schnittke’s Sonata for Cello and Piano (1978), full of dramatic contrasts, plunged the audience in an atmosphere of dismay, pain, chaos and anxious anticipation. Members of the audience left the auditorium with a feeling of uncertainty during the intermission.

The negative emotions were replaced by the cello playing in unison with the piano in Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Sonata with its uplifting music inspiring optimism and confidence in the Victory. The musicians were greeted with shouts of bravo and bravissimo from the crowd.

To mark Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 180th birthday, the musicians performed one of the composer’s most popular works, ‘Capriccio Italien’, as an encore. The auditorium resounded with cheers and thunderous applause.

After the concert, the musicians received congratulations and posed for selfies with their fans. Later, I had the opportunity to have a conversation with them.

- Aleksey Nikolaevich, why did you choose to perform these works at the concert?

- Honestly, I had not planned to include them in the program devoted to the Great Victory. But it seems to me that they perfectly fit the emotional mood of this landmark event. Music is an abstract art form, and it transcends all boundaries. Beethoven’s works are the classics I associate with a peaceful life, full of joyous and happy moments. Schnittke’s sonata with its frightening unpredictability is reminiscent of the tragedy of war. It was the feeling the listeners were left with before the intermission. Then, we performed Rachmaninoff’s Sonata encouraging the firm belief in the soon-to-be-won Victory that kept the Soviet people’s spirits up.

- There is one more thing that influenced our choice, Vladimir Mkrtumov added. Rachmaninoff is known to have had strained relations with the Soviet government, however during the war he contributed the money he had received for composing the sonata to the Red Army. It was the composer’s civil duty and noble deed for the Victory over fascism.

- We know that you rehearsed together for the concert only twice. How did you manage to team up and perform so flawlessly as a duo?

- Two rehearsals are a minimum, of course. But I know Volodya to be a highly skilled professional musician, and each of us has performed the pieces quite a few times. We had agreed that if our interpretations differed, we would synchronize and mutually adapt to each other.

- How long have you know each other?

- We were roommates living in a student dormitory, when we studied at the Moscow College of Music. And we played the instruments together. When performing on stage in front of audiences we wear tailcoats and bow ties, but offstage, Volodya and Lyosha have a longstanding friendship – we have been friends for 33 years.

- Have you ever performed together on the big stage?

- We have made our debut on the big stage today!

- How do you like the audiences in Ashgabat?

- I love the audiences here; they are appreciative, well-prepared, receptive, and respond properly to the music. And importantly, they come to the concert and turn off their mobile phones. This is an unattainable luxury now.

- How do you manage to combine your concert performances as an active cellist with your post as rector of the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory?

- I performed at concerts when I was a student of the Conservatory I am in charge of now. It did not interfere with my studies and does not affect my work now. By the way, our students are now staging a production of Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Queen of Spades’. The opera has always been sung by celebrated singers. It will be performed by students for the first time.

- We wish you success and hope you will come to visit us again!

- I will certainly come at the first possible opportunity.