The Ukrainian Arts Monitor

Volume 1, Issue 17
25 December 1995


1995  Finally

Current Events  Horowitz Piano Competition
Unique Folios Stolen
The Illi Repin Fund
Ukraine's First President Honored
New Kyiv Gallery
New Book by Roman Ivanchuk

Announcement  The Preservation of Ukrainian Religious Monuments

Reviews  Opera "Dido and Aeneas"

Dates  Today in History

Arts Calendar  Concerts
Opera and Ballet
Theater
Others

Contact  New UAM Rubric
Rebirth of National Traditions

http://www.ukrainet.lviv.ua [ Home ]








1995


Finally
We are proud to present to you the 17th issue of U.A.Monitor and the first issue published both in Ukrainian and English languages.
We hope that the future development and growth of the Ukrainian Arts Monitor will continue in the next year - 1996.
Together the staff at UAM would like to sincerely wish our readers a wonderful and productive year.  And a Happy, Happy New Year!

--Antony Potoczniak, UAM.



CURRENT EVENTS


Horowitz Piano Competition
Kharkiv.  On December 11th, thirty young performers from Ukraine and 6 foreign countries took part in the first International Piano Competition named after Volodymyr Horowitz.  The competition's jury was headed by the professor of the Moscow Conservatory, Victor Merzhinov.  Sponsors of the event included the region's government administration and the Ukrainian Musician's Union.  The competition ended on December 19th. The first prize winner was awarded 10,000 US dollars.

--"Radio Lux", for UAM.

Unique Folios Stolen
Chernivtsi.  A unique book "The History of Jewish Religions," dating from late thirteenth century and written in old Latin on parchment, was stolen from the Scientific Library at the University of Chernivtsi named after Fedkovych.  Two unidentified persons were able to deceive the library's head archivist after having shown former KGB identification cards and peacefully left the premises with the relic.  According to the library's director Mr.  Voloshchuk, the value of the book is worth no less than one million dollars, though - understandably - such folios have no price.

--"Molod Ukrayiny".

The Illi Repin Fund
Chuhuyev.  The first meeting of founders of the charitable fund named after Illi Repin recently took place in the artist's native city Chuhuyev.  The preparations for this event already began several years ago.  Last year, during a jubilee anniversary, the idea to create such a fund was proposed and later accepted.
The goal of this fund is to uphold the memory of the artist, to preserve his works, and to materially support young artists, museums, and the art school named after Illi Repin.  Among the founders of this fund are the Artist's Union of the NIS, the Ukrainian League of Historic Cities, artist cooperatives of Ukraine and Russia, and Chuhuyev's city administration.  It is the organizer's hope that Bilorus and Finland, who also consider Repin their national artist, will also cooperate in the future activities of the fund.

--"Holos Ukrayiny".

Ukraine's First President Honored
An exhibition honoring the 130th birthday of Ukraine's first president, Mykhailo Hrushevsky, opened in the Scientific Library of the Lviv State University Ivan Franko.  This exhibition includes scholarly works by Hrushevsky as well as other works by noted national and foreign scholars who influenced the former President's world-view.  Also expressed in this exhibition is Hrushevsky's humanitarian influence as a historian, scholar, and political activist in Ukrainian society.

--"Moloda Halychyna".

New Kyiv Gallery
Kyiv.  Recently, the first city art gallery "Lavra" opened in state's capital.  Created by the city administration's Department of Culture, the new gallery will be used for large yearly exhibitions, Ukrainian and international art symposiums, as well as for the presentation of creative projects.
The first art show at "Lavra" was the "Autumn Palette of Kyiv," which now will become a yearly tradition of spring and fall exhibitions of the capital's artists.
According to the Kyiv's administration director, Leonid Kosakivskyj, this long awaited dream had finally become a reality: "a city with many cultural traditions, many talents, now has its own art gallery."

--"Holos Ukrayiny".

New Book by Roman Ivanchuk
Lviv.  The presentation of a new book "The Gospel From Thomas" by the well-known Ukrainian author and laureate of the Shevchenko State Award, Roman Ivanchuk, was held in the oldest book repository of Ukraine, the Scientific Library of the Lviv State University Ivan Franko.

--"Vysokyj Zamok".



ANNOUNCEMENT


The Preservation of Ukrainian Religious Monuments
Poland.  The Civil Commission for the Preservation of Ukrainian Church Art has existed in Poland for the past 12 years under the direction of Bohdan Martyniuk.  In spite of the great difficulties encountered during its creation, the commission has been able to accomplish a lot of important work during this interim period, including the location, description, and the appraisement of many Ukrainian religious art works, as well as the conservation and restoration of numerous sanctuaries - churches, cemeteries, road crosses, small chapels - located beyond Ukrainian borders (the territory of former Zheshivsky, Lublinsky, and Krakivsky Provinces).
To popularize Ukrainian culture abroad, the Commission organizes numerous events including art competitions for children and teenagers revealing the best paintings in post-competition exhibitions in Ukrainian and Polish cities.  Similarly, several conferences, photo exhibitions, and concerts of Ukrainian church and folk music are conducted yearly.  It is particularly important to note that participants of these events are of different religious confessions and nationalities from Poland, Ukraine, and Canada.

--Lidia Chyr, UAM.

For more information about the Commission's yearly activities, please contact the organizers at the following address: ul. Pienkna 44a, 00672, Warszawa, ZG TOnZ - Kom. Cerkiewna, Poland - Polska.



REVIEWS


Opera "Dido and Aeneas"
Lviv.  On December 8th and 10th in the Lviv Organ Recital Hall, the choir and orchestra of the Lviv Higher Music Institute M.V.Lysenko under the direction of Heorhyj Pavlyj performed Henry Purcell's opera, "Dido and Aeneas," in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the composer's death.  Among the soloists was English singer George Newton Fitzgerald, who sang the role of Aeneas.
This performance was an unusual event because it was the first attempt in Lviv that a baroque opera could be interpreted in an authentic manner.  In October, Heorhyj Pavlyj prepared a similar program of works by baroque English composers Purcell and Blow. Steven Daw, professor at the Birmingham Conservatory and a specialist of baroque music, conducted the concert.  Professor Daw also gave consultation during the performance rehearsals of "Dido and Aeneas."
The specific manner of singing demanded by the baroque style sometimes confused Lviv soloists, whose diction from time to time was subject to unrecognizability.  However, among the soloists, Vasyl Slipak (countertenor, by the way, the only in Ukraine) charmed audiences with his expressive manner of singing.
Of course, the major work accomplished with the student orchestra and choir (choir master, Yaroslav Hnatovskyj) - although not always convincing - should be appreciated.

--Pavlo Hrechka, UAM.



DATES


Today in History
5 December
Born Oleksander Oles (Kandyba) (1878-1944), poet.

6 December
In 1240, Tatar-Mongols under the leadership Batia conquered and razed the ancient city Kyiv. Born Mykola Kolessa (1903), composer, conductor, and pedagogue.

7 December
Born Kateryna Bilokur (1900-1961), artist. Born Mykola Ustianovych (1811-1885), writer and social activist.

8 December
In 1868, the society "Prosvita [Enlightenment]" was formed in Lviv.

9 December
Born Borys Hrinchenko (1863-1910), author of the fundamental Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language". Born Volodymyr Romaniuk (1925-1995), philosopher, theologian.

12 December
Born Anatoly Petrytskyj (1895-1964), artist.

13 December
Born Mykola Khvylovyj (1893-1933), writer and poet. Born Mykola Sadovska (1856-1933), actor and director. Born Yevhen Petrov (1902-1942), writer.

14 December
Born Mykola Starytskyj (1840-1904), writer and dramaturg.

15 December
In 1934, 28 Ukrainian scientists, writers, and social activists were sentenced to death in the USSR, among them were D.Falkivskyj, H.Kosenka, K.Burevyj and I.Krushelnytskyj.

17 December
Poet, Mykhailo Drai-Khmara (1889-1939), died while working in a coal mine on Kamchatka peninsula. Born Yevhen Bukovetskyj (1866-1948), painter, initiator for the formation of the Artist's Union named after K.Konstandi.

18 December
Died Ivan Stempkovskyj (1789-1832), archaeologist and founder of the archaeological museums in Odesa and Kerchyn. Born Mykola Kulish (1892-1942), writer, dramaturg.

19 December
In 1492, first dated record which mentions the Cossacks (in a letter from the Lithuanian Prince Oleksander to the Crimean Khan Megli Hirea).

20 December
The first book from the Kyiv-Pecherska Lavra publishing house which dates from 1616. Born Yevhen Filomafitskyj (1790-1889), scholar, writer, and one of the first to introduce Ukrainian journalism. Born Josyp Lozynskyj (1807-1889), ethnographer, linguist, and author of the book "Grammar of the Rus Language".

21 December
Born Tymko Padura (1801-1871), Ukrainian and Polish poet-Romantic.

22 December
Born Marko Vovchok (Maria Vilinska) (1834-1907), writer.

23 December
In 1873 was founded the Literary Organization named after Taras Shevchenko (from 1892 The Shevchenko Scientific Society).



ARTS CALENDAR


Concerts
CONCERT OF CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Saturday, 16 December 1995, 3 p.m.
The Higher Music Institute M.V.Lysenko (HMI) and The Research Art Foundation Metropolitan Andryj Sheptytskyj present an afternoon of contemporary music in the Lviv National Museum (Prospect Svobody, 20). Performers: String Quartet HMI (Led by Orest Kohut) Marta Kurylo (violin), Roman Sokruta (violin), Volodymyr Meheden (viola), Solomia Kanchalaba (cello). Program: Shostakovych, Quartet No. 8, Op. 110; Skoryk, Diptych.

AN EVENING OF PIANO CONCERTOS
Sunday, 17 December 1995, 7 p.m.
Ludkevych Concert Hall (Tchaikovsky Street, 7). Performers: Maksym Lymaryev (soloist, piano), The Lviv Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Yarema Kolessa, conductor). Program: W.A.Mozart, Piano Concerto d-minor K.465; F.Chopin, Piano Concerto e-minor.

AN EVENING OF SONATAS
Wednesday, 20 December 1995, 5 p.m.
Presented by the graduates of the Higher Music Institute. The Lviv Regional Organization Hall "Znannia" (Prospect Shevchenko, 19). Performers: Zenovyj Zhmurkevych (piano), Oleksander Kalynovskyj (piano), Halyna Zhuk (cello), Yaryna Horbachevska (viola), Andryj Vakula (clarinet). Program: works by Poulenc, Brahms, Beethoven, Shostakovych.

BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL
Friday, 22 December 1995, 7 p.m.
Ludkevych Concert Hall (Tchaikovsky Street, 7). Performers: Oleksandra Zaytseva, Kyiv (soloist, piano), The Lviv Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra (Yarema Kolessa, conductor). Program: Symphony No.2, Piano Concerto No.4

CONCERT OF VIRTUOSOS
For wind and percussion instruments
Friday, 22 December 1995, 6 p.m.
The Higher Music Institute (HMI) Concert Hall (O.Nyzhankivskyj, 5). Performers: Students of HMI. Program: works by Mozart, Prokofiev, Haydn, and other composers.

A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS PRESENT
Saturday, 23 December 1995, 7 p.m.
The Organ Recital Hall (Bandera Street, 8). Performers: Lydia Shutko (violin), Diana Havata (cello), Ostap Shutko (violin), The Lviv Chamber Orchestra, Artur Mykytka (conductor). Program: works by Vivaldi, Laniuk, Barvinskyj (Skoryk), Kryvolap, and other composers.

CONCERT MESSIAH
Sunday, 24 December 1995, 5 p.m.
The Organ Recital Hall (Bandera Street, 8). Performers: The Lviv Chamber Choir "Trembita," Yurij Lutsiv (conductor). Program: G.F.Handel, Messiah.

THE ALL-MALE A CAPELLA GROUP "PICARDY THIRD"
Monday, 8 January, 1996, 5:30 and 8 p.m.
The Theater of Opera and Ballet (Prospect Svoboda, 1). Program: solo Christmas concerts.

Opera and Ballet
THE IVAN FRANKO THEATER OF OPERA AND BALLET
Prospect Svoboda, 1
21 Dec  Zaporozhets za Dunayem, Lysenko
22 Dec  Futile Discretion, Hertel
23 Dec  Christmas Night, Lysenko
24 Dec  Christmas Night, Lysenko (12:00)
24 Dec  The Forest Song (ballet), Skorulsky
27 Dec  Evening of Ancient and Contemporary Dance
28 Dec  Christmas Night, Lysenko
29 Dec  The Forest Song (ballet), Skorulsky
30 Dec  Die Fledermaus, Strauss
31 Dec  The Magical Frog, Yanivsky (12:00)

All performances begin at 7 p.m., except where otherwise indicated. Tickets can be purchased at the theater's ticket office before each performance. For more information about performances, please contact the opera's information office at the following phone number: +38 (0322) 728-672.

Theater
THE ZANKOVETZKYJ THEATER
Lesia Ukrainka, 1 тел. +38 (0322) 720-762
21 Dec  Sharika, Barnych (16:00)
22 Dec  Night on the Mountain Grove, Oles (18:00)
23 Dec  Sharika, Barnych (18:00)
24 Dec  Vertep, O Rejoice (12:00)
25 Dec  Vertep, O Rejoice (17:00)
26 Dec  Sin and Repentance, I. Karpenko-Karij (17:00)
27 Dec  Medea, J. Anouilh (17:00)
28 Dec  Through a Pike's Wish [Po shchuchomu velinniu] M.Kropyvnytsky (14:00)
29 Dec  Through a Pike's Wish [Po shchuchomu velinniu] M.Kropyvnytsky (14:00)
30 Dec  Night on the Mountain Grove, Oles (18:00)

Tickets can be purchased in the theater's entrance during the day prior to performances. For more information, please call +38 (0322) 720-762.


PUPPET THEATER
Danylo Halytskij Square, 1
Theatrical versions of Saint Mikolai will take place from the 15 - 22 December. Tel. +38(0322) 722-946

Others
THE LVIV STATE CIRCUS
Horodotska Street, 83
Program: "Behind the Circus Scenes." 19 December, 1995. Three programs dedicated to Saint Mykolai's Day. Tel. +38 (0322) 722-946



CONTACT


New UAM Rubric
The goal of our new rubric is to help provide and establish contact for those individuals and organizations, who may require such assistance, with the wide auditorium of Ukrainian Arts Monitor readers in Ukraine and in other countries around the world.
We hope that you will find this opportunity helpful.  We will also be contented if this rubric will continuously serve as a unifying link for those who are interested in the development of Ukrainian art and culture.

--Yaroslav Davydovsky, UAM.

Rebirth of National Traditions
Lviv.  The Ukrainian Republican Party (URP) is organizing a trip of Vertep [Ukrainian Christmas carol theater] to eastern and central regions of Ukraine and is sponsoring children to visit Lviv during the Christmas holidays in Western Ukraine.  The children will be able to familiarize with Ukrainian holiday season traditions (in West Ukraine, traditions and rituals have been less destroyed during the Soviet era).  A Vertep group from Lviv (20 persons) will be traveling to Kirovohrad oblast while 40 children from that region will visit Lviv.
We are soliciting potential sponsors for financial support for the realization of this project.  Needed is approximately 50 million karbovanets ($280 US) for the trip from Lviv to Kirovohrad, and to support the group of children in Lviv region - over 100 million karbovanets ($560 US).

--Ihor Shostak, Halytska URP.

N.B. You may contact with the author of this announcement, through Maria Koval, UAM.  Tel. +38 (0322) 723-094, <mk@ukrainet.lviv.ua>.




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