This month, many works of Ukrainian composers will be played in the Column Hall of the National Philharmonic, and a fabulous journey into the world of music has been prepared for the youngest visitors.
At the beginning of spring, the Philharmonic will introduce music lovers to the diversity of Ukrainian music: from 20th century classics such as Borys Lyatoshynskyi or Viktor Kosenko to new works by contemporary authors.
Also, the first poetic and musical project dedicated to understanding the war will be presented in the Column Hall. And for children from 3 to 5 years old, a new interactive format of concerts will be launched.
DISCOVERING UKRAINIAN: names and premieres
“I will pray for Ukraine.” Volodymyr Zubytskyi. Author’s concert
Volodymyr Zubytskyi is considered to be the successor of the national tradition of Levko Revutskyi, Borys Lyatoshynskyi, and Myroslav Skoryk. Since 1995, the composer, conductor and accordion player lives and works in Italy, but regularly returns to Ukraine.
On March 2, the maestro turned 70 years old, he will celebrate the anniversary at a concert in Kyiv. The theme of Ukraine permeates the work of the composer in recent years. The jubilee concert will feature the world premiere of Zubytskyi’s choral symphony “Plyve Kacha” (“Prayer for Ukraine”) based on poems by Taras Shevchenko, Oleksandr Konyskyi, folk and canonical texts.
The National Presidential Orchestra and the People’s Choir Chapel named after Pavlo Chubynskyi will take part in the concert.
When: March 4 at 6 p.m
Ticket prices: 250-400 UAH.
Kazadezyus, Rodin, Sokachyk. Ensemble “Kyiv Soloists”
The central event of the performance of the “Kyiv Soloists” under the baton of conductor Serhii Golubnychy is the world premiere of the Concerto for violin and chamber orchestra by the modern Ukrainian composer Oleksandr Rodin (soloist – Yurii Styopin).
“The work was written shortly before the war,” the author said. — It begins with an orchestra imitating the sounds of sirens. In the drama there is a sense of anxiety, the kind that a person carries with him to the shelter during the bombings, and in general all that we experienced in the first months of the war. The concert turned out to be prophetic.”
Also on the program is the Concerto for Viola and Strings in the style of J.K. Bach in C minor by the French composer of the 20th century, Henri Casadesius, and “Corali sbagliati” (“Wrong Chorales”) for string orchestra by the Ukrainian composer, Renata Sokachyk.
When: March 6 at 6:00 p.m
Ticket prices: 250-400 UAH.
“Drop by drop.” Kyiv Chamber Orchestra
Despite the tour in Ukraine, which is not recommended for foreign musicians, conductor Mikhail Menabde, who lives in Vienna, is coming to Kyiv again. He lived in the capital of Ukraine for 10 years, until 2017. Here, Mikhail became a conductor (he graduated from the Kyiv Conservatory in Roman Kofman’s class), met his future wife, and started a family. Therefore, it is important for a conductor to support the morale of Ukrainians.
“Each piece, which will be performed on March 11 in the column hall of the National Philharmonic by the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra, carries different images of the human state of mind, where sometimes there is sadness, beauty, deep sadness, love, sorrow, hopelessness and hope,” he said conductor.
The program of the concert with the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra includes two premieres. The first is “Drop by Drop” by the Ukrainian-Dutch composer Maksym Shalygin, written a few days after the start of the war.
The second is “Kommos 2022” by Oleg Bezborodyk from Kyiv. The name comes from the Greek “κομμός” – “to hit”, “to beat oneself on the head and chest as a sign of mourning”. In an Athenian tragedy, it is a lament sung by the chorus and the hero together when the tension of the play reaches a climax of grief and horror. The composer wrote the piece after the missile attack on the Officers’ House in Vinnytsia on July 14, 2022.
The concert will also feature the music of Samuel Barber, Wojciech Kilar, Arvo Pärt and Valentin Sylvestrov.
When: March 11 at 6:00 p.m
Ticket prices: 250-400 UAH.
Music by Ukrainian composers. Ensemble “Kyiv Camerata”
The concert will present the works of four bright and original composers: Valentin Sylvestrov, Yuriy Lanyuk, Oleg Bezborodko and Volodymyr Zahortsev.
The last one is the least known and perhaps the most underestimated. A student of Borys Lyatoshinskyi and a member of the Kyiv Avant-Garde art group, Zagortsev was the only one among his colleagues to remain loyal to the avant-garde direction of his work. In the composer’s chamber concerts, the artist’s lyrical talent was most evident. The First Chamber Concerto for Flute, Harp and String Orchestra, written in 1981, will be performed by the “Kyiv Chamber” under the baton of conductor Oleh Marychenko.
Also on the program are “Tale of Kings” for string orchestra by Oleg Bezborodek, “Chamber Music” for orchestra by Yuriy Lanyuk and Chamber Cantata No. 12 based on a poem by Taras Shevchenko for voice and orchestra by Valentin Sylvestrov.
When: March 16 at 6:00 p.m
Ticket prices: 250-400 UAH.
UNDERSTANDING WAR through music and poetry
“The word is a weapon!” A poetic and musical project for the Day of the Ukrainian Volunteer
Anatoly Matviychuk’s poems are at the heart of the action, the genre of which the Philharmonic defines as a poetic mass. The leitmotif of the evening will be the theme of war in all its dimensions, which is replaced by the theme of hope and faith in the bright future of our country.
Ukrainian composers and performers Viktor Krysko (keyboards), Mykhailo Shved, Kyrylo Stetsenko (violin), Viktor Matsko (drums), as well as master of the artistic word Anatoly Palamarenko, poet, composer, singer, publicist Anatoly Matviychuk, worked on the musical and poetic component of the project. artists of the Philharmonic Nadia Ageeva-Shved (author and director of the project), Natalia Nasikan (artistic word), Hanna Semets (vocal and artistic word). Music by Maksym Berezovskyi and Anatoly Matviychuk will also be played. Anastasia Krysko created video content especially for the event.
All the participants of this event, which combines words, music and video, experienced firsthand what war means.
When: March 13 at 6:00 p.m
Ticket price: 200-350 UAH.
SIGNIFICANT CONCERTS: world classics and Ukrainian composers
Beethoven, Kosenko. National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine
Next to Ludwig van Beethoven’s Concerto for violin and orchestra in D major, the program includes the work of the 20th century classic by Viktor Kosenko, a talented and original Kyiv composer. By the way, his museum-apartment is located on Mykhailo Kotsiubinsky Street.
The cycle “Eleven etudes in the form of ancient dances” for piano, written by Viktor Kosenko during 1927-1929, is a vivid example of Ukrainian neoclassicism. This work will be heard in the orchestration of Leonid Bylchynskyi.
When: March 22 at 6:00 p.m
Ticket price: 200-400 UAH.
Mozart, Wagner, Poleva. Kyiv Chamber Orchestra
The concert program of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra conducted by Natalia Ponomarchuk includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 29 in A major, Richard Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll” for chamber orchestra (one of his few non-opera works), and “Langsam” by the modern Ukrainian composer Victoria Poleva .
The title of this work, which was written in the early 1990s, translates from German as “Slow”. Victoria Poleva continues the traditions of the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler — her music is also characterized by a quiet flow and inner strength.
When: March 25 at 6:00 p.m
Ticket price: 350-500 UAH.
“Quartets: Beethoven, Lyatoshynskyi”. Nota Bene Chamber Group
The musicians of the chamber alliance Nota Bene Chamber Group under the auspices of the National House of Music will present the Eighth String Quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven and the Third String Quartet by Borys Lyatoshinsky.
This Beethoven quartet, commissioned by the Ukrainian patron Andriy Razumovskyi, is one of the most “Ukrainian” chamber works by the German classicist. In it, the author quotes the melodies of Ukrainian folk songs. Instead, Lyatoshynskyi’s Third Quartet is perhaps the most “pro-Western” in the early work of the Ukrainian modernist composer. Here the artist continues the Austro-German tradition of musical expressionism.
When: March 30 at 6:00 p.m
Ticket price: 250-400 UAH.
IN THE PHILHARMONY FROM CHILDHOOD
“Quest-concert with rabbit Philharmonic”. Interactive project for children 3-5 years old
The new format of the project involves interactive communication with children. Participants will dance, sing, try to play different instruments and communicate with musicians.
The little one will be met by the Philharmonic Rabbit, the Professor, the Princess and the evil wizard Dissonance. Together with them, children will feel like composers and conductors, they will make a wish to the music and in the end they will receive a sweet gift.
During the quest-concert, children will get to know musical instruments, listen to short pieces of music and learn a song about Patron the dog.
The interactive quest-concert lasts about 60 minutes without an intermission.
When: March 19 at 12:00 p.m
Ticket price: 150 hryvnias Children under 6 years of age can attend the concert for free, if they have a ticket from the accompanying adult (1 ticket: 1 adult with one child under 6 years of age).
Address of the National Philharmonic: Volodymyrsky Uzviz, 2
Also at the National Philharmonic of Ukraine continues the “Open Rehearsal” project aimed at young people. Students of all art educational institutions of Ukraine, subject to prior online registration, can attend rehearsals of leading groups and artists in the Column Hall of the Philharmonic.
The nearest open rehearsal of the Kyiv Chamber Orchestra will take place on March 10 at 9:45. Registration.
Maria Kataeva
