Odessa pianist Alexey Botvinov played for the President of Switzerland in Kiev

The founder of Odessa Classics festival and one of the best performer of Rachmaninov's music Alexey Botvinov performed before the President of Switzerland Simonetta Sommaruga during her visit to Ukraine.

In the beautiful Bereznitsky Art Foundation, Alexey Botvinov had the honour to play Bach, Chopin, Scryabin, Rachmaninov and Karamanov (which music was a special surprise for the guests).

Mrs. Sommaruga spoke about the mission of culture, its unique ability to bring people of different nations closer to each other. She especially noted that culture is going through an unprecedentedly difficult period, both for society and authors, and expressed the hope that the process of returning high art will soon lead to the restoration of a normal cultural life.

The Swiss President's interest in music is not surprising. By herself she plays piano and has also been supporting the Odessa Classics festival for the last 3 years and this is truly invaluable help.

This is my first concert after 5 months of pause and it was performed for the President of Switzerland Simonetta Sommaruga, the Swiss delegation and Ambassador Claude Wild. It's very significant that Mrs. President began her official visit to Ukraine and started it with culture!

Alexey Botvinov

It also turned out that Simonetta Sommaruga heard Alexey Botvinov concerts in Switzerland, in particular at the Murten Classics festival in Murten, where Botvinov often performs.

We agreed to play something 4 hands next time. And it's such a great happiness for me to play music for people again.

Alexey Botvinov