February 2026 marked the fourth anniversary of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian-German pianist and composer Vadim Neselovskyi, who lives in the USA, takes up episodes from the war in his home country in his new work "Perseverantia" (Latin for endurance, perseverance).
The suite for piano and string trio comprises ten movements with titles such as "I don't need a ride" or "Funeral in Lviv". Neselovskyi was partly inspired by the media coverage of the events in Ukraine, but the majority of the composition arose from his encounters with Ukrainian refugees and his collaboration with Ukrainian musicians. The music moves between introspective passages and eruptive intensifications. Stylistically, Neselovskyi deliberately transcends conventional genre boundaries. Elements of jazz, contemporary classical and improvised music combine to create an independent formal language of high artistic concentration.
In addition to his intensive international concert activities, Vadim Neselovskyi teaches jazz piano at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and at the Maastricht Conservatory. Whether as a pianist, composer, improviser, soloist or bandleader, Neselovskyi creates music that is truly inspired and absolutely unique. His works have been performed by jazz greats such as Randy Brecker, Antonio Sanchez, Julian Lage and Gary Burton, as well as classical soloists and symphony orchestras in the United States and Europe.
The Dutch Ysaÿe Trio was founded in 2006 by Rada Ovcharova (violin), Emlyn Stam (viola) and Willem Stam (cello) and performs regularly at leading festivals and concert halls worldwide. (Source: asphalt Festival gGmbH)
