Dmitry Sitkovetsky: Keeping the Flame

Trailer: Keeping the Flame

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500

Dmitry Sitkovetsky is a Soviet-born violinist, transcriber, and conductor. In this series, he revisits his journey from a privileged musical upbringing within an oppressive society to the new life he forged as an émigré. Through his reflections — and the music that shaped him — his story unfolds against the backdrop of the cultural and political currents of the late 20th century.

https://www.dmitrysitkovetsky.com/

This podcast was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter I: The Son Of

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode, Dmitry revisits his childhood – the first sounds of music in his mother’s womb, the early loss of his father and an audition with a prominent violin teacher.

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Website: https://www.dmitrysitkovetsky.com

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter II: The Great Russian Violin School

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

This chapter takes a behind-the-scenes look at a system that produced countless talents. Dmitry recalls his experiences with Soviet musical training.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter III: Beating the Soviet System

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Dmitry paints a portrait of a Brezhnev-era child’s double life: acting the part of model pioneer in front of teachers and rebelling the moment authority’s back turned — seeking out forbidden writers, music, and ideas.

This episode asks: How do you navigate a society where authority controls every facet of life?

Episode cover: a fragment of a photograph from the Central Music School in Moscow, 1961–1972.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter IV: The Guru

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

A determined search for alternative lifestyles and opinions in the Soviet Union led the almost-18-year-old Dima to meet a man who presented himself as a spiritual guru, and became a kind of father figure to him. What followed was an 8-year-long, deeply twisted relationship.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter V: The Escape

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

A first-hand account of escaping Soviet Russia — complete with diversion, persuasion, and a whole lot of chutzpah.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter VI: The First Ten Days in New York

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Dmitry arrives at JFK International Airport and is immediately swept up in the whirlwind of artistic New York: Juilliard, auditions, and scraping together enough money to survive in the city.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter VII: Becoming a Westerner

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Dmitry remembers his firsts — first car, first movie, first concert. This episode is a reflection on the events that reshaped one refugee’s Soviet mindset.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter VIII: Two Brothers

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Once there were two cousins. They were like salt and pepper. One had dark hair; the other was blond. One practiced the violin, while the other preferred the guitar. One left the country and started from scratch in the West; the other stayed in the USSR and pioneered Soviet art rock. They hadn’t spoken to each other in years, until they finally reunited.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter IX: Bach

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

Dmitry explores the structure and content of this extraordinary work. Bonus story: how he spent the best two months of his musical life in the virtual company of Glenn Gould and J.S. Bach.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/

Chapter X: The Father Of

Dmitry Sitkovetsky — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0500

In the final chapter of the season, Dmitry’s life comes full circle: he revisits Russia and becomes a father. Plus, a look at mistakes made and lessons learned.

This episode was produced by Libo/Libo: https://libolibo.me/