Second Violins

Ekaterina Gorelova

In the orchestra since 2023

She graduated from the Central Music School of the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (the class of M.A. Ostapchenko), and completed the graduate programme and postgraduate studies at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory (the class of Professor E.D. Grach). She is the laureate and diploma holder of international youth competitions and festivals.

She worked as an artist of the orchestra of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Musical Theatre, the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Moscow Philharmonic, and the Moscow State Academic Symphony Orchestra. As a guest artist, she collaborated with leading orchestras in Russia, performed as part of orchestras conducted by such conductors as Mariss Jansons, Vladimir Jurowski, Alexander Lazarev, Yuri Simonov, Vasily Petrenko, Alexey Rudin, Pavel Kogan, and others.

She maintains active concert and touring activities in Russia and abroad both as a soloist and as part of chamber ensembles, quartets and orchestras.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU IN YOUR WORK?

It is impossible to live on inspiration alone in music. Self-discipline is just as important for musicians, because in addition to creative work, there is a routine, technique, and details that need to be honed. I am motivated by the result. For example, if I'm in an orchestra, it means that I'm a small cog in a huge complex mechanism. And my task is to give my 'compartment' of this mechanism a go, to make it work. And of course, I want everything to work out in the end.

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST PERFORMANCE WITH MUSICAETERNA?

The got an offer to join the musicAeterna Orchestra when I was going through a difficult period in my life and lost my bearings for a while. From the very first note played in this ensemble, a powerful wave swept over me, it was a big push forward. At the first concert in which I participated, Tchaikovsky’s symphonic poems and overtures were played — like any musician, I had played these works many times before, knew all the material well and thought it was impossible to be surprised by anything here. Yet suddenly I discovered this music all over again. To this day, every time we play the Francesca da Rimini overture, Dante’s Inferno opens up in front of me. And every time it shakes me to the core.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MUSIC?

I like to listen to 'monumental' music. For example, Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler. I also really like the genre of opera. My favourite opera composer is Verdi. Some might say that this music is simple, but his arias, especially in excellent performance, cannot but touch. I think it's incredibly beautiful. When I was a student, I worked in the orchestra of a musical theatre and could cry right during the performance. I'm playing, and tears are running down my cheeks.

ARE YOU NERVOUS BEFORE GOING ON STAGE?

I had to deal with stage fright. It's difficult to work with it, because it overwhelms you exactly when you're already going to perform – and there's very little time to do anything. Body-oriented practices have helped me to cope with that, meditation is something that helps me work with attention, not to be distracted by small things. When already on stage, it's important to focus on what makes you feel good – the music and an opportunity to bring joy and aesthetic pleasure to people. But I'll tell you in secret that the biggest fear of an orchestral musician is to play something wrong during a pause.

HOW DO YOU RECOVER?

The most important way to recover is to spend time with loved ones. It cannot be replaced by anything. It is also important for any musician to have time filled with silence and emptiness. It refreshes perception, hearing, and gaze. I like conscious walks – listening to the sound of the wind, birdsong, catching smells, looking at beautiful architecture.

WHAT MAKES MUSICAETERNA DIFFER FROM OTHER ENSEMBLES?

I really love the feeling of freedom. When we are in an orchestra rehearsing within a section, for example, anyone can offer their own vision, and we will definitely try. I would like to transfer this feeling of shared breathing to the rest of my life.