WORLD CONTEXT
December 12, the National Opera of Ukraine hosted a gala concert starring US singer Jessye Norman, Russia’s National Philharmonic conducted by Vladimir Spivakov, and the Kyiv Opera Choir.
Compositions by Bizet, Saint- Saens, Ravel, and Gershwin were performed, each virtuoso rendition adding to the general warm, captivating atmosphere. There were endless encores, standing applause, and countless bouquets. Vladimir Spivakov finally smiled and left the stage, returning with Jessye Norman to perform Richard Strauss’ sad and penetrating Tomorrow, Spivakov doing his unmatched violin accompaniment. All those present agreed that the soiree was a great success (with VIPs in the audience, such as Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, cabinet members, prominent politicians, businessmen, scholars, cultural figures, and diplomats). It was a charity concert with proceeds to be transferred to Kyiv’s Berizka Home of HIV-infected orphans. President Kuchma had his monthly salary remitted to the Berizka account. All told, about one million hryvnias was collected.
The concert was a vivid example of how Ukraine is fitting into the context of world charity. People in many countries have long realized that AIDS is an issue one cannot shrug off but must bear. This plague of the last century involves not only drug abusers and risk-group individuals. Hundreds of people are known to be born as HIV-carriers. Physicians in a number of countries have long been ringing the alarm, saying that the number of such people is increasing and that there is still no effective remedy. Regrettably, AIDS is not a bad news but an existing problem that must be solved in Ukraine.
The Anti-AIDS Foundation was set up this September. It is a nonprofit organization, founded by what is known as nongovernmental entities, precisely by individuals acting at their own initiative and using their own funds, stressed foundation Chairperson Olena Franchuk in an interview with The Day, adding that “our objective is to draw public attention to the HIV/AIDS problem; we want to carry out information and educational campaigns, using the media, as well as to finance disease- prevention and treatment projects.
Regrettably, AIDS is Ukraine’s daily reality, rather than someone else’s problem. It cannot be shrugged off by those seriously contemplating Ukraine’s future, said Ms. Franchuk, adding that the foundation was meant to support all those involved in or with this problem, so that AIDS-affected individuals would not feel like outcasts in this country.
Their idea met with public support, as evidenced by the concert’s packed audience. Some of the tickets were sold and others sent to particular politicians and businesspeople, the accompanying letter asking that the addressee kindly determine precisely how much he is prepared to pay for the ticket, stressing that the concert proceeds would be donated to the afflicted orphan’s purse.
As it was, the concert marked a significant event in Kyiv’s cultural life, starring Vladimir Spivakov and Jessye Norman. Needless to say, the Russian Philharmonic and Ukrainian National Opera’s Choir gave a flawless performance. Their participation helped the foundation collect some one million hryvnias. All this money would be placed in the Berizka bank account. Ms. Franchuk stressed that the concert was one of the foundation’s projects being part of a comprehensive program to help prevent and treat HIV and AIDS cases in Ukraine. “I am happy to know that Vladimir Spivakov remains a dedicated friend of Ukraine. He loves this country and his Ukrainian audiences. He is always enthusiastic about visiting our country, every time bringing an interesting repertoire. On this particular occasion gave us a singular opportunity to watch and hear the US operatic star Jessye Norman,” said Ms. Franchuk.
Vladimir Spivakov said after the concert that its objective was a noble one. Aiding afflicted children was extremely important. Everyone in the audience, buying a ticket or transferring a sum to the Anti-AIDS Foundation’s bank account made his/her own contribution in a great and noble cause. “The children, our love of them, are a manifestation of our love of God,” emphasized the musician and conductor.
“I love Spivakov as a violinist and conductor. Onstage, this musician undergoes a magic transformation. His mastery and inspiration are amazing. Every instrument in his orchestra is distinctly heard, and they all produce a singular ensemble. Their music can be heard every day; theirs is a classical repertoire, yet every melody is easily recognizable and loved by all ages. The orchestra, the soloist, and the choir did not try to prove who was the best; they emerged as a harmonious whole and the concert proved a remarkably enjoyable experience. It was the legendary Jessye Norman’s first performance in Ukraine. I’d heard many gifted women singers in my time, but Jessye’s voice is something one remembers long after. Onstage, she created vocal images unaided by wardrobe and props, and she was very convincing, both as an actor and singer. I would like to thank the organizers of this beautiful soiree. Their purpose was noble, to raise funds for the AIDS-afflicted. Too bad, only a chosen few could afford to buy tickets. I think that such large-scale projects should be undertaken for the benefit of the younger generation, so that they could attract even larger audiences,” said Dmytro Hnatiuk, Chief Stage Director of the National Opera of Ukraine.
Philippe de Suremen, French Ambassador to Ukraine, was characteristically emotional, saying, “It was a magnificent concert! I am sure that all those fortunate enough to be in the National Opera audience that night had the most enjoyable soiree, being able to watch and her the great singer Jessye Norman and the singular conductor and violinist Vladimir Spivakov. AIDS is a tremendous issue challenging the whole world. This horrible disease can be overcome only when various individuals agree to combine their efforts.”
“I am caught in a whirlpool of emotions,” admitted Mohyla Academy Professor Marianna Karabyts, adding, “I was enchanted by Jessye Norman — and I am familiar with this singer and her creative legacy, teaching twentieth century music at the Kyiv Conservatory of Music. I have in my private audio/video library several recordings of Norman’s truly brilliant renditions in America, including her part as Jocasta in Stravinsky’s Oedipus. She is a beautiful singer and a singular expert in dramatic identification; she fulfilled all my expectations during her concert in Kyiv. Of course, she is aging, yet nothing seems to have blemished her spectacular performance. She did her habanera as Bizet’s Carmen, the female lead part in Saint-Saens’s Samson et Dalila, and Gershwin songs her usual way, meaning no one could have done it better. I am also familiar with Vladimir Spivakov’s work. Some of my colleagues studied at the Moscow Conservatory with him. Vladimir Spivakov popularizes classic music, both as a conductor and virtuoso violinist. Russia’s National Philharmonic is a new creative team put together by Spivakov, aided by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Cultural life is thriving in Moscow; they foster what we know as academic art. I could only wish our President Leonid Kuchma acted like that, supporting national culture, because the Ukrainian arts badly need this kind of assistance.”
The gala concert at the Kyiv National Opera became further evidence that our nation’s talent should not rely on official assistance alone; there are corporate and individual well-to-do philanthropists who feel genuinely concerned about Ukraine’s future; they are prepared to help develop Ukrainian national culture and are willing to aid Ukrainian orphaned children.
