Concert titled “Outstanding Graduates for Alma Mater” took place at NMAU. The program of the concert included performances of the ensemble “Kyiv Soloists,” Viktoria Lukianets (soprano), and Andrii Ilkiv (trumpet). The highlight of the night was the perfect bel canto of Lukianets! Slim and thin opera singer with radiant smile – her amazingly divine voice is often compared by critics to the great voices of primes from the last century like AmelitаGalli-Curci and Adelina Patti. Outstanding director Franco Zeffirelli named Viktoria Lukianets among the “three glorious Traviata” along with Maria Callas and Teresa Stratas. Current repertoire of Lukianets includes over 50 leading parties in seven languages and her tours are scheduled for years ahead. For many years she has lived in Vienna, performed on the most prestigious stages of the world, but every time she gets a chance she comes to her homeland, where she’s got many fans. After the concert in Kyiv Viktoria Lukianets answered a few questions of The Day.
“The concert was great,” said the singer. “The singers and musicians performed a rare program – spiritual compositions of the 18th century, opera arias, and modern vocal compositions.
Good singing requires not only the high level of professional skill, but also composure. That’s why many compositions sounded so great, especially Sergei Rachmaninoff’s romances, ‘Solveig’s Song’ from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg, and ‘Prayer’ by contemporary Ukrainian composer Iryna Havrylina.
“You know, in the morning, the day of the concert I still hesitated whether I should fly to Kyiv. I just recently was infected with bronchitis, but my inner voice told me that I still had to go and perform. However, I did not know for sure if I would be able to sing. My schedule is very busy. And it’s not all about concerts or opera performances, I also teach vocal at Vienna Conservatory. I am grateful to all my Kyiv fans who came to support me at the concert.”
Do you remember the time when you realized that you wanted to be not simply a professional singer, but an opera singer?
“I have always felt a calling to be a singer. I got a great desire to become an opera singer when I was 12 years old after I had been to an opera play Tsar’s Bride by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov starring the prime of Kyiv stage of that time Yevhenia Miroshnychenko.”
Who helped you in your career of an opera singer?
“I met wonderful people, who taught me: Ivan Palyvoda (at Reinhold Gliere Kyiv Music School) and Yelyzaveta Chavdar (at Kyiv Conservatory). After my performance at the Mikhail Glinka International Competition, famous opera singer of the Bolshoi Theater Irina Arkhipova suggested: ‘First you should sing with me and then you will draw capacity crowds on your own!’ And I performed at her concerts: I majored in piano when I was studying in the conservatory and late singer Natalia Troitska, who began to patronize me in Moscow and recommended me in the West, said: ‘Viktoria, with your piano you will earn more money than with forte!’”
Why did you decide to leave Ukraine?
“In 1993 after winning some international competitions I received an official contract with Vienna Staatsoper. And the year after that I began to work there. I did not leave Ukraine. I often come home: my mother lives in Kyiv, I often go to my father’s grave and visit my home village. I also often come to Ukraine with concerts. Thus, I don’t feel nostalgia.”
How often do you perform on Ukrainian stages?
“It varies and depends on the number of invitations. Sometimes I come here twice a month and sometimes it is less than this. I have more concerts in Lviv than in Kyiv. In 2010 I had several joint concerts with the famous Lviv pianist Marianna Humetska. Then together we went to the US to perform in Washington and New York. By the way, on February 9 I participated in the festival ‘Ukrainian Opera Singers in the World’ and I performed together with tenor Oleksandr Diachenko (Alfred) and Harry Setian (Giorgio Germont). This time I came to Kyiv to participate in the concert ‘Outstanding Graduates for Alma Mater.’”
It is well-known that professional skills are not enough to sing beautifully. What inspires you?
“My inspiration is flowers, rain, sun… I love nature. I have a house full of flowers. I also get inspired from communicating with harmonious people, warm weather, and even from driving car on my own. It also helps when everything is well at home. Then you feel peaceful inside.”
What should a beginner singer do to become a favorite of the audience?
“He should not think about worldwide recognition and remain himself. A singer must combine skills and soul and also believe in himself.”
How do you manage to both have lots of concerts and teach?
“Now, I give fewer concerts than I did before. There is a new generation of singers. I most often perform in a series of concerts. This gives an opportunity to fully engage in teaching as well: I have 25 students of various nationalities. The main thing is to find balance between the two activities. It is great that my husband supports me in this. He is also a singer and teacher. We have been together with Yurii for almost 30 years already and we often understand each other without words being said.”
What do you think about modern interpretation of operas? Remember the latest modern performance in which you participated and how the audience reacted to this experiment?
“I am very impressed with modern performances if it is not about history. I became fond of modern music in 2008 when I sang in the opera The Soldiers by Bernd Zimmermann (part of Mary) in Tokyo. There was so much jazz, rock, and classical music (three orchestras accompanied the opera). Then I felt the taste for such music. Although, at first I got the impression of complete confusion, but when I discovered all the subtleties I began to understand why there is such an interval, this pause – it’s such a pleasure! The performance turned out interesting and the audience was pleased with the opera.
“I believe that you should not get hung up to something because modern art can refresh classics too.”
Can you name you favorite opera arias and compositions?
“By temperament and vocal I am a melodramatic singer. I like characters that are suffering and experiencing love… These are La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Mary Stuart… There are over 50 different opera parts in my repertoire. I believe that an opera singer should be able to sing anything! Only then your creative work will be interesting to others.”
Please, tell us about your creative plans for the near future.
“In summer I will go on a tour of seven cities in Japan. By the way, next year will mark the 25th anniversary of my creative career and I want to give solo concerts in Vienna and Kyiv.”
