This year the program of the festival is dedicated to the momentous date – the 200th birth anniversary of Taras Shevchenko. Musicians will perform compositions associated with the name of the Ukrainian genius, most of them will be premieres: Roman Tsys’ Cantata for a Narrator and Chorus (September 28, Small Hall of the National Music Academy of Ukraine); Myroslav Skoryk’s Hamalia – cantata for choir and orchestra (September 28, Philharmonic Society); Levko Kolodub’s Ukrainian Sketches – symphonic suite based on a poem by Taras Shevchenko (September 29, Philharmonic Society); Valentyn Sylvestrov’s Shevchenko’s Word – choir concert with the Municipal Academic Chamber Choir “Kyiv” (director – Mykola Hobdych) (October 1, Church of Saint Basil the Great); Borys Liatoshynsky’s chorus on poems of Taras Shevchenko (performed in various concertos) and piano compositions (October 2, Hall of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine); Yevhen Stankovych’s Taras Passion for soloists, choir, and orchestra (October 5, Philharmonic Society); and choruses of modern Ukrainian authors (performed in various concertos).
“The concept of the festival, once developed by an outstanding Ukrainian composer Ivan Karabyts and his colleagues, for 24 years now remains unchanged – it features Ukrainian music in global context,” Olha KONONENKO, managing director of the “Kyiv Music Fest,” told The Day. “The program includes five symphony, seven chamber, seven choir, two piano, folk, and jazz concerts, as well as the presentation of the CD record of the compositions of Valentyn Sylvestrov. The total of 200 compositions of various genres will be performed, including 109 Ukrainian ones. Music of more than 70 Ukrainian composers will be presented to the audience.
“The festival will feature music of Austria, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Estonia, Iran, Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Poland, Russia, the US, Hungary, Ukraine, France, Croatia, Chile, Switzerland, Sweden, and Japan.
“We expect a lot of guests, in particular, conductors: Fedor Glushchenko (Russia) at the opening concert (September 28, Philharmonic Society), Nicolas Farin (Switzerland) will conduct symphony presentation Sound Fairy Scene (September 30, Philharmonic Society), Roman Rewakowicz (concert of Polish choral music – October 3, Philharmonic Society), Nikon Zhila (Russia) – regent of the Sretensky Monastery Choir (concert as a part of the ‘Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Ukraine’ on October 1 at the Great Hall of the National Music Academy of Ukraine). In addition to the mentioned Sretensky Monastery Choir we also expect violinists Yurii Kharenko (US) – the first performer of the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 by Myroslav Skoryk (will perform this piece at the opening of the festival) and Hugo Ticciati (Sweden, concert on October 1 at Philharmonic Society), Yuji Noguchi – musician (bass clarinet) from Japan, who currently lives in Switzerland, pianist Dmytro Onyshchenko (Ukraine-Russia), jazz pianist improviser Joel Holmes (US), who will demonstrate his skills together with Olena Leonova and colleagues in academic and jazz projects ‘Voices of the Earth’ (October 4), composers Jerzy Kornovich – chairman of the Union of Polish Composers, Igor Vorobyov (Russia), Boris Yakopovich (Croatia), and others.
“Among the participants of the festival there will be soloists and 23 Ukraine’s leading ensembles: National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Capella ‘Dumka,’ Symphony Orchestra of the National Philharmonic Society, Kyiv Chamber Orchestra, ensembles ‘Kyivska Kamerata’ and ‘Kyivski Solisty,’ Platon Maiboroda Academic Choir, Academic Orchestra of Folk and Popular Music of the Ukraine’s National Radio Company, Khmelnytsky Chamber Orchestra, chamber choirs ‘Kyiv,’ ‘Khreshchatyk,’ and ‘Sofia,’ ensemble of modern music of the National Union of Composers Kyiv organization ‘Rykoshet,’ Dmitry Bortniansky Quintet, quartet ‘Post Skriptum,’ National Orchestra of Ukrainian Folk Instruments, and others.
“Besides the mentioned programs, we expect a lot of interest from the audience to the piano performances of bright pianists – Yevhen Hromov and Dina Pysarenko (for many their names will become a true music discovery). The original prelude and postlude of the festival – programs of the quartet ‘Post Skriptum’ and ‘Kyivska Kamerata Invites…’ as well as the concert of the Ensemble of Modern Music ‘Rykoshet’ – will be equally interesting (these events will be held in the hall of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine).”
By the way, admission to all festival events is free!
