All of us at Delos were profoundly saddened to hear of the passing, on May 8, 2015, of Vera Voznesenskaya Orbelian – beloved mother of distinguished conductor and Delos Artists & Repertoire Director Constantine Orbelian. “Sweetie Pie” (her family’s affectionate nickname for her) was 96 years young.
Vera – of Ukrainian birth – and her Armenian-born husband Harry (who predeceased her in 2006) were shining examples of what is perhaps America’s greatest strength: that body of hard-working immigrant citizens who came to our shores and struggled to forge a better life for themselves and their families. Vera and Harry emerged triumphant from the earthly Hell of WW II as “displaced persons” before coming to America and settling in San Francisco, where they were married in 1952.
These very models of the American dream achieved resounding success as distinguished professionals: Vera as a Ukrainian-trained gynecologist/obstetrician; and Harry, who – despite a humble start – worked resolutely (inspired by Vera) to eventually amass a large real estate portfolio in metropolitan San Francisco. But the couple’s greatest achievement – as Vera is reported to have often said – was their family.
Among them, the most conspicuous success story by far is that of Constantine, who began his musical career as a brilliant concert pianist before assuming directorship of the vaunted Moscow Chamber Orchestra (MCO) in 1991. The first American to ever direct a major Russian ensemble, he went on to tour with the MCO throughout Russia and the world, as well as to conduct most of Russia’s other leading orchestras and make nationally televised broadcasts with them.
Since coming to Delos in 1998, Constantine has made nearly 40 critically acclaimed recordings for us, most recently as the newly appointed Chief Conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony in Lithuania. And it is with this ensemble that he has made some of his most successful CDs, in collaboration with top international opera superstars like baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, bass Ildar Abdrazakov and tenor Lawrence Brownlee, among many others. Of these, the Brownlee recording earned the artists (and Delos) a well-deserved GRAMMY nomination. The same recording and his album with Abdrazakov were further nominated for top prizes in the 2014 International Classical Music Awards (ICMA) competition.
Let’s now examine Vera’s vital legacy … one that she shares, of course, with her husband Harry – and one that’s much more important and far-reaching than most people realize. I like to define that legacy in terms of what I’ll call “cultural and musical soul” – because Constantine’s soul encompasses many and wondrously varied cross-cultural aspects.
While essentially proud Americans, Constantine and his siblings (mostly at Vera’s insistence) grew up in a multicultural and multilingual household. Vera hails from a part of Ukraine (Kharkov) that balanced kindred national cultures and languages: her native land’s as well as Russia’s. And, with both Russian and Armenian émigré communities nearby, both Harry and Vera saw to it that their children were thoroughly steeped in their ancestral cultures and traditions.
But it is Constantine who has made the most of the unique international perspectives and cross-cultural insights that only such an upbringing could bless him with. Thanks to Vera, his near-native command of the Russian language enabled him to fit right in when he took over the MCO and began working with Russian cultural institutions all over the country and much of the rest of the world. Perhaps his strongest and most constant aim has ever been – via the universal human language of great music – to reveal to Americans the more positive aspects of Russian people and culture … and vice versa.
Constantine’s secure conviction that art (especially music) has the power to transcend international political differences and tensions has repeatedly been proven correct, considering the numerous and prestigious honors and awards (too many to list here) that he has received, primarily from the Russian and Armenian governments in recognition of his mission to bring people and nations together through music. Many of these honors have never before awarded to an American (See Constantine’s current bio HERE).
Constantine certainly acknowledged that vital “Russian Soul” aspect of his persona when he dedicated his smash-hit album of that very same title (DE 3244) to the person who – more than anyone else – inspired it:
Dedicated to my mother, Vera Voznesenskaya Orbelian, who has given me tremendous love, comfort, happiness, strength — and shown me life through her beautiful Russian soul.
For like reasons, both Constantine and his longtime colleague – recording partner and international operatic icon Dmitri Hvorostovsky – dedicated one of their most recent Delos releases, Wait for Me (DE 3475), to their respective parents. This emotionally wrenching recording of classic Russian wartime songs (the third in a series) is a prime example of the universal appeal of music that – “Russian Soul” or not – resonates in the deepest psychic recesses of any soldier the world over who has served in times of war.
What greater gifts to her child – besides unconditional love – could a mother bestow? And, through him, what greater legacy to the whole world could any mother possibly claim?
I never knew Vera personally; I fervently wish I had. Stories from many who cherished her friendship remain yet to be told. But I hope that this overview of her life and gifts to the musical public at large will give you – our cherished readers – some idea of what this remarkable woman’s life has meant to music lovers everywhere, whether they realize it or not.
Vera loved music. Please enjoy the special “Vera playlist” (below) of works that were specially selected to represent elements of her life and provide a few glimmers of her vivid spirit.
Truly, Vera’s was a life well and beautifully lived.
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