Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra Explained

The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra is an orchestra composed of Ukrainian refugees who have fled the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Ukrainian members of other European orchestras.[1] [2] Canadian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson, who has Ukrainian ancestry, provided the impetus for the creation of the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra,[3] [4] which the Metropolitan Opera of New York and the Polish National Opera immediately supported as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the war in Ukraine.[5] [6]

History

The 74 musicians, all Ukrainians – recent refugees, Ukrainian members from some European orchestras (e.g. Tonkünstler Orchestra, Belgian National Orchestra and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)[7] and some of the top musicians of Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa and elsewhere in Ukraine – assembled in Warsaw 10 days before the inaugural concert for intensive rehearsals.[6] The inaugural concert was held in Warsaw on July 28 (2022) at the Polish National Opera.[4] The programme of this concert included the 7th Symphony by the Ukrainian composer Valentyn Silvestrov, Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (soloist: Anna Fedorova), Leonore's aria Abscheulicher! Wo eilst du hin? from Beethoven’s opera Fidelio (soloist: Liudmyla Monastyrska) and the 4th Symphony in E-minor by Johannes Brahms.[8] [7] On July 31 the Orchestra performed the same programme at the 2022 BBC Proms, a performance that was hailed by The Guardian as "highly impressive and deeply moving".[9] [6]

The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra continued its world concert tour with concerts in the United Kingdom – Edinburgh (Edinburgh International Festival) and Snape (Snape Maltings, Suffolk), Germany – Munich (Isar Philharmonic Hall), Berlin (Konzerthaus) and Hamburg (Elbphilharmonie), France – Orange (Chorégies d'Orange Festival, Vaucluse), Netherlands – Amsterdam (Royal Concertgebouw Festival) and Ireland – Dublin (National Concert Hall). In European cultural capitals, the orchestra was greeted with standing ovations and positive reviews from critics.[10] The tour concluded with concerts in New York (Lincoln Center) on August 18 and 19, 2022 and in Washington, DC (Kennedy Center) on August 20.[6] [4] The New York Times acclaimed the Lincoln Center performance as "admirably even-keeled and soft-spoken, an embodiment of a cultured nation".[11]

Notes and References

  1. News: BBC Proms 2022: Ukrainian refugee orchestra among the line-up. BBC News . April 26, 2022.
  2. News: Denouncing War, Ukrainian Musicians Unite for a World Tour. Javier C.. Hernández. The New York Times . April 25, 2022.
  3. https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/110058-000-A/ukrainian-freedom-orchestra/ ARTE Concert: Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra – Das Gründungskonzert live aus Warschau
  4. [The Guardian]
  5. https://www.br-klassik.de/aktuell/news-kritik/ukrainian-freedom-orchestra-tournee-ukraine-100.html BR-Klassik: Das Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra
  6. https://www.metopera.org/information/ukrainian-freedom-orchestra/ The Metropolitan Opera: Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra
  7. http://www.musik-heute.de/24302/ukrainian-freedom-orchestra-das-eroeffnungskonzert-aus-warschau/ Musik Heute: Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra – Das Eröffnungskonzert aus Warschau
  8. https://teatrwielki.pl/en/repertoire/calendar/2021-2022/inaugural-concert-of-the-ukrainian-freedom-orchestra/ Polish National Opera: Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra
  9. News: Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra review – tears and roars of delight for new national ensemble. 2022-07-31. The Guardian. July 31, 2022 . en-UK. Willson . Flora .
  10. News: An Orchestra Supports Ukraine, and Reunites a Couple Parted by War. The New York Times . August 14, 2022 . 2022-08-14. en-US. Hernández . Javier C. .
  11. News: Review: A Ukrainian Orchestra Speaks With Quiet Intensity. The New York Times . August 19, 2022 . 2022-08-29. en-US. Woolfe . Zachary .