Making beautiful music

‘Every summer I travel with my friends to the Greek islands for water skiing – steering fast motor boats is a passion of mine,” says Sergej Krylov, one of the leading violinists of his generation. He admits to loving other extreme sports as well, such as flying light planes and driving fast cars. “The only reason I haven’t yet flown a chopper is lack of time,” he sighs. But he does other sports, such as biking and running. ”And yes, fishing! I am very proud that this summer I caught a sea fish for the first time.”

Krylov has many hobbies. Much like other young, successful professionals of his generation, he is always happy to devote time to other interests, such as reading and building remote-contolled model airplanes and helicopters.

“Reading is not a hobby, and books are not the only source of information,” he says. “YouTube is an amazing thing – there you can find a lot of excellent music, both classical and jazz, whatever. But alas, I do not have much time for this.”

Krylov returns to Israel to perform with the Ra’anana Symphonette on October 31, this time as a soloist and conductor. A year ago Krylov, in his debut concert in Israel, captivated audiences with his sheer musicality and virtuosity. This time, he is coming to Ra’anana at the invitation of his friend, Israeli conductor Omer Meir Wellber, who serves as the orchestra’s artistic director.

“I’ve just returned from Berlin, where I performed a Sibelius concerto with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Wellber’s baton,” says Krylov in a phone interview from his home in Cremona, Italy. “I am thrilled to return to Israel and to conduct Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, which is a wonderful piece. My schedule will be very tight – and not only because of the music: I have relatives here, and they want to show me the country.”

Born in Moscow into a musical family (his mother a pianist, his father a violinist, who later became a luthier), Krylov started playing violin at the age of five. While still very young, he won the Lipizer International Violin Competition.

“My parents were my most important teachers, and I performed with my mother for many years,” he says.

Krylov graduated from the Central Music School of Music in Moscow, and in 1989 the entire family moved to Cremona, the world capital of violin making. His father, Alexander, a well-known Russian violin maker, was among the few who graduated from the Cremona Stradivari Academy in the 1970s and was awarded the coveted Gold Medal, so the choice of new place was quite obvious. He died in 1999 at the age of 50.

Krylov has two violins at his disposal – that of Antonio Stradivari, received on loan from the Sau-Wing Lam Collection, and one made by his father.

Winning first prize at the Stradivari Competition and the Fritz Kreisler Competition in Vienna catapulted Krylov’s international career forward. He now performs with some of the best orchestras around, as well as playing chamber music with such partners as Denis Matsuev, Yuri Bashmet, Itamar Golan, Bruno Canino, Maxim Vengerov, Nobuko Imai and the Belcea Quartet.

Four years ago Krylov was appointed chief conductor of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, following the suggestion of the orchestra members. “I appeared with them, and that was what they often asked,” he says. “For many instrumentalists, conducting is a logical progression of their musical development,” he explains.

The violinist admits that for him, “There is no such thing as a favorite composer. How can I compare concerti by Beethoven and Shostakovich? Both are the creations of a genius. I simply love beautiful music.”

Sergej Krylov will perform in Ra’anana on October 31 and November 1 & 3 at the City Arts Center, 2 Palmah Street. The concert program includes Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 (the Unfinished) and Rondo for Violin and Strings; Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5; and the Zigeunerweisen by Sarasate.

Follow @JPost_Lifestyle