Kyiv Soloists
Programme
- Maksym Berezovskyj: Symphony in C major
- Oleksandr Šymko: Dreams of an Old Forest
- Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: String Symphony No.10 in B minor, MWV N 10
- Myroslav Skoryk: Melody in A minor
- Jurij Ševčenko: We Are!
- Nino Rota: Concerto for Strings
- Traditional Ukrainian music: Plyne kača
- Valentyn Sylvestrov: Silent Music
Performers
- Kyiv Soloists
Concerts around Europe
The leading Ukrainian ensemble Kyiv Soloists was founded a quarter of a century ago by Ukrainian violinist and teacher Bohodar Kotorovych. Its members are outstanding musicians, many of whom hold awards from Ukrainian and international competitions. The orchestra regularly travels on tour to Europe and Asia and has given concerts in such venues as the Luxembourg Palace in Paris, Berlin’s Comic Opera, the main concert hall of the National Philharmonic in Warsaw and the RadioKulturhaus in Vienna. They have worked with a series of internationally established names, among them conductors Kirill Karabits and Oksana Lyniv and violist and conductor Maxim Rysanov. The orchestra’s repertoire covers various epochs, from the Baroque masters to contemporary music. The Kyiv Soloists are proud to hold the title “National Chamber Ensemble” and for their achievements the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted them the title “Ambassadors for Ukrainian Culture in the World”.
Ambassadors for Ukrainian Culture
The Russian aggression in Ukraine began when the ensemble was out of the country. “It started out as a regular two-week tour to Italy on 23rd February,” stated violinist Anatoliy Vasylkivsky, artistic director and manager of the Kyiv Soloists since 2017, in an interview for the Bachtrack website. The following day Russian units launched their attack on Ukraine. “When we arrived in Italy, many of our members phoned their families and heard that there had been bombings.” The ensemble made the decision to remain outside the country. Not only for their own safety but also so they could fulfil their obligation as “Ambassadors for Ukrainian Culture” and organise concerts in support of their homeland. After appearing in twenty Italian towns and cities the ensemble headed for Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. “We want to dedicate these concerts to our families, our country, our army, which are now fighting for the democracy of the whole world,” Vasylkivsky told Bachtrack. The ensemble has so far given more than forty concerts and has managed to raise hundreds of thousands of Euros at these events. The Kyiv Soloists continue in their efforts to promote Ukrainian culture, to acquire the funds to support their country, and to unite people in an endeavour to maintain peace.
