Ukrainianb. 1983 · Ukraine
Lena Sierova (b. 1983, Kyiv) graduated from the composition faculty of the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine in 2007 and completed an assistantship-internship there in 2010, alongside study through the “Gaude Polonia” scholarship at the Kraków Academy of Music under Zbigniew Bujarski. She has served as art manager for the International Youth Festival of Contemporary Music “Music Marine Fest” and the International Youth Music Forum, curated the First Ukrainian Music-Theatre Residency “Skhid Opera” (2020), and is Associate Professor in the Department of Academic and Pop Vocals and Sound Engineering at the National Academy of Culture and Arts Management in Kyiv.
string quartet, performed by the Mivos Quartet
Performed by Mivos Quartet (String quartet)
The quartet “Suppression” was written in 2013. I had very disturbing dreams at that time. I tried to supplant these feelings, I did not understand their reasons. Perhaps it was a premonition of the events of the Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity, which began at the end of this year. You might hear it in music.
US premiere; after O. Henry
Performed by Joyce Li Yu (Piano), Coco Chih-Yu Cheng (Flute), Marilyn Farias (Clarinet), Priscilla Tam (Violin), Isabella Liu (Cello), Lindsay Joslin (Double bass), Quinn Rasmussen (Vibraphone), AJ Morrissey (Percussion), Shun Lopez (Percussion), NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble (Ensemble), Jonathan Hass (Conductor)
The Last Leaf is inspired by American writer O. Henry’s short story of the same name; the composer indicates that the music evokes in particular the passage in which the ailing heroine, watching the leaves fall, resolves to let go: “…There goes another one. There are only five left now… When the last one falls I must go, too… I’m tired of waiting. I’m tired of thinking. I want to turn loose my hold on everything, and go sailing down, down, just like one of those poor, tired leaves…”
