Semyon Bychkov: Everything begins with the heart joined by the mind, not the other way around

To the average mortal, Semyon Bychkov's calendar looks like a bad joke – completely full for five years ahead. It is no coincidence that the moment we found for an interview was during a car journey from Prague to Karlovy Vary, where he was due to conduct the Czech Philharmonic. During those two hours, what left the strongest impression was not his insight into the world of classical music or his observations about humanity and today's society, but rather the genuine attention he gives to the other person during the conversation.

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“As the leader, your role is to have a vision of the piece and share it with your colleagues. Naturally, as you are making music with others, the vision evolves. It's as if you start with the trunk of the tree, which is what you bring, and then the branches spread.”

Semyon Bychkov

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“I have no concern about human creativity. That is something that nothing and no one can ever stop. It is impossible. No one can stop ideas from being born in somebody's head, or emotions being born in someone's heart, and the capacity to bring them together in such a way that it will be a work of art.”

Semyon Bychkov

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