For the first time since the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and my flight to Bavaria, I went to a classical concert. It was the teachers’ concert of the Pullach music school in the town hall there, which traditionally takes place once a year. Compared to the Munich venues, however, the concert hall was rather small. And yet I had the feeling that music was being played on the stage at an international level. That was surprisingly great. I really enjoyed the concert, also because it felt like family to me.
Born into a family of pianists, I was able to play the piano at the age of four, much before I learned to ride a bicycle. Classical music has always played an important role in my life. With the Russian attack on my homeland, however, listening to classical music has become a luxury for me. There’s usually something else I have to take care of.
But at the weekend I took the opportunity to listen to good music. The Pullach music school supports refugee children in the community in making music themselves. You can learn an instrument there for free or attend choir classes. I also recently enrolled my daughter in music school. I am very grateful for this opportunity, and on Sunday I wanted to hear how the teachers play music.
The program was as diverse as the instruments played by the musicians. Classical music and jazz with piano, clarinet, saxophone, jazz piano, bass and drums were played by artists from Germany, Japan and Georgia. Many of the musicians studied abroad or were trained there, for example in Austria or in New York, the respective influences could be clearly recognized in the performance.
Being an artist and a teacher at the same time is perhaps only possible in cities like Munich
All of the music was beyond praise. I personally liked two improvisations by Georg Thoma the most. He teaches piano and improvisation at the music school in Pullach and is a good example of the high level at which the concerto was played. Because many of the teachers often appear on big stages parallel to their work at the music school. Listening to them and at the same time having the opportunity to be taught by them at a music school is probably only possible in cities like Munich.
But I also noticed that Russia’s war against Ukraine made my right to enjoy the music of my homeland a luxury as well. Not only did I have to leave my home, all my friends and my own apartment, but I was also deprived of the opportunity to regularly enjoy my culture. This is very painful for me and I hope with all my heart that at some point Russia will be held accountable. Here I trust not only in the strength of the Ukrainian army, but also in that of the international community.
Emiliia Dieniezhna, 34, fled from Kiev to Pullach near Munich with her then four-year-old daughter Ewa. She works voluntarily for the non-governmental organization NAKO, which aims to fight corruption in Ukraine. She also teaches German to Ukrainian refugee children. Once a week she writes a column for the SZ about her view from Munich on the events in her home country.