A life dedicated to music!

The 75th birthday of Yuriy Vasylevych and the 40th anniversary of the Kyiv Saxophone Quartet provide a wonderful occasion to gather for the sake of music that has united listeners and performers for decades. Yuriy Vasylevych—founder and leader of the ensemble, Honored Artist of Ukraine, and Mykola Lysenko Prize laureate—is a musician for whom the saxophone has become a natural way of communicating with the audience.

The program weaves together various moods and eras. The first half features works that are deep and contemplative: "Autumn Music" by Hanna Havrylets, along with new compositions and world premieres written specifically for the quartet, including the suite "MEMORY…" by Maksym Dulitsky and Jean-Denis Michat’s "Concerto Italien." Alongside these are masterpieces that reveal new dimensions through the saxophone, including interpretations of Bach.

The second half is more relaxed and warm, featuring melodies by George Gershwin, songs by The Beatles, and works by contemporary Ukrainian composers. This is music that resonates easily and requires no unnecessary explanation.

This concert is not about formal anniversary rituals, but rather about gratitude and the vivid presence of music in the here and now. It is a celebration of musicians who have played together for many years and still find profound joy in doing so.