Hobart Earle has dedicated his career to the renowned Odesa Philharmonic Orchestra, where he is Music Director and Principal Conductor. In this special presentation, he weaves sound and image to discuss the role of music in Ukraine's resistance to Russian aggression. The conductor will talk about the challenges faced by musicians in Ukraine during the war and explore lesser-known moments in Ukrainian history, how performers adapt to life during wartime, and how music itself is transformed for the listener due to current events.
This illustrated lecture will feature videos of the orchestra's performances from 2014 to the present (such as the "Flash Mob from the Odesa Fish Market") and offers the Oxford audience new insights into Ukrainian musical culture, including works by Ukrainian composers little known here. Above all, Hobart Earle's talk represents a celebration of the defiance of music and artistic expression in the face of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. An event not to be missed.
The Odesa Philharmonic dates its modern history to the 1930s. As Music Director and Principal Conductor since 1992, Earle has elevated the orchestra to a position of international prominence, gaining many awards and performing around the world. In recognition of his work with the orchestra, Earle was awarded the titles "Distinguished Artist of Ukraine" and "People's Artist of Ukraine", the first westerner in the history of Ukraine to be honoured in this way.
