KharkivMusicFest to be held in Kharkiv – the only music festival to take place in Ukraine despite the war
On 13 April, KharkivMusicFest will open, featuring several premieres, including a performance by conductor Roc Fargas (Spain-Germany) with the National Ensemble of Soloists "Kyiv Camerata" and the premiere of the work "Maria's City" by an upcoming Ukrainian composer, Zoltan Almashi, dedicated to Mariupol. The KharkivMusicFest is scheduled to open on 13 April and will continue until 1 June.
The Festival is organized by the Charitable Foundation of Kharkiv Community "TOLOKA".
"Despite the tough times in which we have been living and working for years, our Festival takes place every year, and I am deeply convinced that it should. It is a testament to our culture of resilience and a demonstration that Kharkiv remains a vibrant cultural center that hosts Festivals, concerts, and other events featuring world-renowned performers. It's not just about communicating with our fellow countrymen and foreign audiences in this way, showing what the city is like now, what we are like in it," notes Sergii Polituchyi, President of KharkivMusicFest. "The Festival fulfills an essential task from the point of view of humanity - art supports people, gives them spiritual comfort and a chance to escape from the terrible realities of war. This presents a unique opportunity to change direction temporarily and replenish your reserves.
The opening program of the Festival features compositions by various composers, including Bela Bartok, Vitaliy Hubarenko, Felix Mendelssohn, Zoltan Almashi, Oleksandr Kozarenko, and Volodymyr Zubytskyi, some of whom have been associated with Kharkiv.
It is worth noting that in the early twentieth century, Bela Bartok, a Hungarian composer and expert in national melodies, performed in Kharkiv, and the archives have preserved a poster and reviews of his performances.
It has been noted that Vitaliy Hubarenko, a resident of Kharkiv, began his composing and teaching career in the city. In light of his 90th birthday, his music is being celebrated and showcased in the city once again.
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy is widely credited with reintroducing the works of J.S. Bach to the world. His contributions to the arts and his dedication to his craft have been instrumental in shaping the musical landscape. And it did.
Similarly, Oleksandr Kozarenko, a Ukrainian composer and philosopher of music, has created numerous works that have become beloved classics, performed by some of the most talented soloists, orchestras, and ensembles in the world. His creative career is a conscious exploration of Ukrainian composers such as Mykola Lysenko, Anatoliy Kos-Anatolsky, and Borys Liatoshynsky, and he has been recognized as a 'knight of Ukrainian music.'
The Ukrainian composer Volodymyr Zubytskyi has presented his music to the world, including the highly challenging Violin Concerto performed exclusively by the Kyiv Camerata and violinist Bohdana Pivnenko. Zubytskyi is known for his virtuosity and has authored numerous virtuoso works. He is also a frequent visitor to Kharkiv. The Ukrainian composer Volodymyr Zubytskyi has presented his music to the world, including the highly challenging Violin Concerto performed exclusively by the Kyiv Camerata and violinist Bohdana Pivnenko.
The opening program includes "Maria's City" by the young Ukrainian composer Zoltan Almashi, who previously premiered his work 'Seasons' at last year's Festival.
According to the author, the piece to be presented at the Festival is now one of the most frequently performed works worldwide.
Roc Fargas, a musical prodigy hailing from Barcelona, is set to grace KharkivMusicFest with his extraordinary talent. Roc will be conducting in Kharkiv for the first time, making him the only foreign artist to have agreed to perform in our city.
"It is an honor for me to perform in Kharkiv. When I received the invitation to participate in the Festival, I believed it would be beneficial for people to experience a sense of normalcy during these challenging times and appreciate the joy that music can bring".
The Kyiv Camerata's participation in the Festival's opening has a significant symbolic meaning, as it marks the 30th anniversary of the orchestra's activity.
The concert is dedicated to Valeriy Matiukhin, the founder of the orchestra and his hometown of Kharkiv, in honor of what would have been his 75th birthday this year. According to Kateryna Suprun, the deputy artistic director of the Kyiv Camerata, he had expressed a long-term desire to perform Ukrainian music for you. However, due to time constraints, he was unable to do so. Ms. Suprun also mentioned that he had dedicated his life to promoting the most attractive Ukrainian music.
"Listen. Hear. Feel" is the new message of the Festival, which runs during wartime in a military city. "We are now listening to everything around us in a completely different way," says Yulia Nikolayevska, professor and program director of the Festival, "We are listening to the world that has changed for us, but we are not just listening. We hear the slightest nuances and distinguish shades of sounds. We have become more aware of those around us. We began to feel life more - its pain, fear, suffering, joy. Our Festival is about the situation in which the listener found himself during the war, the feelings and changes that happen to us, the importance of sensitivity to the time in which we live, and the acuteness of feelings. It is also about the creative power of cohesion in our time, about what confuses, inspires, and supports us."
Program of the opening concert of KharkivMusicFest:
Bela Bartok – "Divertimento for strings"
Vitaliy Hubarenko - "Flute Concerto", solo - Dmytro Kuzmin
Felix Mendelssohn - "String Symphony No. 9 in C minor"
Zoltan Almashi - "Maria's City"
Oleksandr Kozarenko – Concerto Rutheno for piano, solo - Dmytro Tavanets
Volodymyr Zubytskyi - "Violin Concerto", solo by Bohdana Pivnenko
In addition, the Festival program includes alternative concerts, performances by the Children's Orchestra and the Festival Orchestra, "The Colour Classics," "Sensuality," "Kharkiv Art Therapy Days-2024", and "Musical Readings" projects.
For further details regarding the Festival program, kindly refer to KharkivMusicFest or Facebook page
Contacts for the media:
Iryna Pelypko,
PR Director of KharkivMusicFest
097-93-88-77-2
Reference information:
KharkivMusicFest, the city's most eagerly awaited music festival, is back with a unique blend of Ukrainian musicians and composers. From 13 April to 1 June, the Festival will offer a diverse music program and a platform for alternative concerts, educational initiatives, and art projects, making it a unique cultural experience for Kharkiv residents.
KharkivMusicFest is expertly organized by the Charitable Foundation of Kharkiv Community "TOLOKA."
You can find all the information about the Festival on the official website https://kharkivmusicfest.com.
Roc Fargas, a musical prodigy hailing from Barcelona, is set to grace KharkivMusicFest with his extraordinary talent. A graduate of the prestigious University of Cambridge, Roc has conducted symphony orchestras worldwide and holds a master's degree in historical performance and orchestral conducting from the esteemed Royal Academy of Music in London. His performance on 13 April will mark his debut in Kharkiv, promising a memorable evening for all music lovers.
Roc has conducted orchestras, including the Jena Philharmonic, Englische Theater Dessau, Weimar State Chapel, South Westphalia Philharmonic, Thuringian Philharmonic, Gradec Philharmonic, Cardiff Sinfonietta, Ruse Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, and Vigo 430 Orchestra. Roc Fargas has an impressive track record of conducting contemporary music projects and premiering compositions in various parts of the world. Recently, he performed a contemporary music project with the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar and the Manhattan School of Music in New York and also conducted Jose Serrano's Spanish zarzuela El Trust de los Tenorios at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai, India.
On 13 April, he will perform in Kharkiv for the first time.
The National Ensemble of Soloists "Kyiv Camerata" is the foremost leader in Ukrainian culture and the premier performer of numerous contemporary compositions.
Every musician in the orchestra is a virtuoso and soloist, contributing to the orchestra's clear mission of promoting the diversity of styles, trends, and schools of composition within Ukrainian music. The orchestra's repertoire is constantly updated and covers a wide range of music, from ancient music by baroque masters to works by contemporary composers. The National Ensemble of Soloists has performed numerous times in Poland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Germany, Armenia, Croatia, Georgia, the USA, Kuwait and other countries with great confidence and expertise.
