Rafael Serrallet, guitar
Rafael Serrallet is a Spanish classical guitarist with a distinguished international career spanning more than 30 years. He has performed in over 100 countries across five continents, becoming one of the most widely travelled classical guitarists of his generation. Known for his refined musicality and expressive depth, Serrallet combines concert performance with a strong commitment to education, social outreach, and cultural memory.
His artistic projects often highlight forgotten voices and neglected repertoires. His latest recording, Y el canto de todas, pays tribute to Latin American and Iberian women composers and was recorded with the Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra in wartime Ukraine — a powerful fusion of art, history, and resilience.
Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra
The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine, based in the historic city of Lviv, is one of the country's oldest and most esteemed symphony orchestras. It was officially established on September 27, 1902, with its inaugural concert held at the Philharmonic Theater of Count Stanislav Skarbko, now the Maria Zankovetska National Academic Theater of Drama . The first principal conductor was Ludwik Vitezslav Czelianski, supported by Henryk Jarecki and Henryk
In its first season, the orchestra performed nearly 115 concerts, attracting over 115,000 attendees. The repertoire included works by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Liszt, Dvořák, Bruckner, Mahler, Saint-Saëns, and Tchaikovsky. Notably, composers such as Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler, Ruggiero Leoncavallo, and Mieczysław Karłowicz conducted the orchestra during this period
After a period of inactivity, the orchestra was reestablished in 1933 under the direction of Adam Soltys, who served as both director and artistic leader until 1938 . During the Soviet era, the orchestra faced challenges, including a hiatus during the German occupation from 1941 to 1944. It was reassembled in August 1944 through the efforts of Isaac Pain, Dionysius Khabal, Nestor Hornytsky, and Mykola Kolessa
Throughout its history, the orchestra has collaborated with renowned musicians such as Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, David and Igor Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Gidon Kremer. Distinguished conductors including Kirill Kondrashin, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, and Kurt Masur have also led performances .
In 2006, the orchestra was awarded the title "Academic," and in 2018, it received "national" status. Since September 2020, it has been named after the esteemed Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk . The current principal conductor is Theodore Kuchar, an American of Ukrainian descent, who assumed the role in May 2022 .
The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine continues to be a prominent participant in international festivals and has toured extensively across Europe and Asia. Its recordings for labels such as Naxos and Brilliant Classics have contributed to its global recognition .
Serhiy Khorovets, conductor
Serhii Khorovets is a distinguished Ukrainian conductor and bayan (button accordion) player, celebrated for his dynamic interpretations and commitment to Ukrainian musical
He graduated in 2008 from the Kyiv National Music Academy under Professor A. Vlasenko and pursued further artistic training in 2014 at the Warsaw Music University with Professor M. Pijarowski.
From 2011 to 2013, Khorovets served as the chief conductor of the Academic Chamber Orchestra at the Rivne Philharmonic. He has collaborated with numerous orchestras across Ukraine—including those in Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Crimea, Odessa, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv—as well as international ensembles in Bialystok (Poland) and Žilina (Slovakia).
Since 2019, he has been a conductor with the Lviv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, contributing to acclaimed recordings such as Ukrainian Christmas with violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv, released by Naxos in 2024.
Beyond conducting, Khorovets performs internationally as a bayanist in a duo with his wife, renowned Ukrainian violinist Lidia Futorska, promoting Ukrainian classical music across Europe and the Middle East.
